Financial Information
AVOID THEÂ CHILLÂ FACTOR.
The early cold snap and snow of the past weeks has brought back memories for many people.     Tens of thousands of homeowners suffered burst pipes during last winter’s severe weather.  Insurers paid out £900 million on water leak claims then, the vast majority for burst pipes.
The risk of burst pipes rises dramatically when a home is left unattended for a long period in cold weather.  Claims costs can top £100,000 if an entire house becomes sodden.  A leaking pipe can spill about 2,200 gallons of water a day if left unchecked.  With winter breaks and the Christmas holidays on the horizon, insurers are warning consumers to reduce the risk of a repeat of last year’s misery.    Flooding from within can be far worse than flooding from outside.  Families go away during freezing weather and that causes their pipes to burst.  After a few days of water flow from an attic, families can return to find their homes and belongings destroyed.
Whilst the cost of burst pipe claims is huge, the emotional impact and inconvewnience to homeowners is far worse.  Part of the problem is that many home owners are not aware of how to reduce the risk of pipes bursting, or what to do if it happens.  One in six householders say they would not know where to find their stopcock in an emergency.  Half of all other adults in a house admit they would not know how to stop the water.  Tenants in rented properties are most likely to be clueless when it comes to shutting off water.    Many stopcocks are under the floor and in many cases have not been used for years which means they are jammed.    Where older people are concerned it may be beneficial to have the water stopcock moved to a more convenient place with ease of access in case of future problems.
Those people who are planning to spend time away during cold periods can take precautions to guard against burst pipes.   The British Insurance Brokers’ Association have a free factsheet on protecting your home against burst pipes which can be downloaded at www.biba.org.uk in the meantime here are a few tips.
PIPES are most likely to burst in cold spells when homes are empty.  If you go away:-
*KEEP the central heating at a minimum 12C-15C, if it is forecast to freeze.
*INSULATE pipes in the attic and crawl spaces as these exposed pipes are the most likely to freeze.  Lag your water tank.
*LEAVE doors open on ktichen and bathroom cabinets.  This will allow warmer air to circulate and reach pipes under sinks and in adjacent outside walls.
*LEAVE the loft hatch door open as allowing warmer air to reach the loft can help prevent the cold tank from freezing.
*TURN OFF the water supply to outside taps.  Turn off the mains water at the stopcock unless you have a combi boiler that requires constant mains pressure.
*IF YOU ARE AWAY for a long time over the winter, it may be worth draining your cold water system.
*IF YOU DO RETURN to frozen pipes, use only gentle heat, such as towels soaked in warm water, to try and thaw them.
Andrew Ferguson, head of M&S Money says: “Those people who are planning to go away this winter can take precautions to guard against burst pipes.  For example, it’s worth asking a friend or neighbour to check your house once every few days to make sure that everything is in order.”