AXA urges homeowners to protect water pipes
With the Met Office forecasting plummeting temperatures again this week, AXA is warning people to make sure they take precautions to avoid the misery of a burst pipe.
Statistics from AXA show that during the last couple of months, claims for ‘escape of water' escalated as homeowners faced up to the damage caused by pipes bursting as a result of the freezing weather. The company has already seen hundreds of claims with average damage costing around £30,000. The biggest claims have seen houses totally destroyed with costs reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds. And for the 20% of households who have no cover for contents, this could have much more serious repercussions.
The most consistent factor behind these losses is householders who have gone away without taking any precautions. Even a day or two away can have devastating effects if sensible measures aren't taken.
Research from the company suggests people really don't understand the risks. Only 8% are concerned that a burst pipe might be a problem while away on holiday over the winter period and only one in three (38%) people will take even the most basic of precautions such as leaving the heating on.
Nick Kidd, head of home insurance at AXA says: "Our research shows that people don't realise the importance of protecting their water systems from freezing conditions. Not only does burst pipe damage have financial implications, especially if insurance is not in place, but it can also cause huge emotional trauma from ruined personal belongings.
"We are worried that despite all the warning signs, a number of homeowners still got caught out by the cold weather this winter with significant damage to their property and possessions. As we gear up for another big freeze this week, we are urging homeowners to do what they can to prevent themselves becoming the victim of a burst pipe. Even if they're just going away for a weekend there are things they can and should be doing to protect their homes such as leaving their heating on. And in the longer term we would urge people to spend some time this year ensuring that things like insulation and lagging are in place before next winter."
AXA's tips for protecting pipes
Leave your heating on at a minimum of 12°C. This will stop water in your pipes from freezing.
Leave your loft hatch open to let warm air circulate - particularly if you have a cold water tank in your loft.
Make sure you know where your stop cock is so you can turn off water quickly in an emergency
Check the insulation on your water pipes and the lagging on your cold water tank - if there's none in place get it sorted as soon as possible.
Insulate your loft - not only will this keep your home warm, it has environmental benefits too. AXA research showed 56% had either had new insulation or checked their existing insulation over the last three years.
Leave your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open - this will allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes that are often found inside these cupboards.
Seal any holes that let in cold air. With modern technology, increasing numbers of people have holes in the wall for computer cables or TV links - yet less than half of us (47%) have taken the trouble to fill around these holes.
If you're going away, drain your water system. Probably not necessary if you are going away for just a short period, but if you are planning an extended break during the winter, this is a wise precaution.
The group most badly affected by claims last year were the over 50s who were spending the winter abroad.
Also, if you're away, get your neighbours to check on your property - 58% of us do this anyway and while it won't stop a pipe from freezing if you haven't taken other precautions, at least early intervention may reduce the damage caused.
Check your insurance is up to date and you are covered for the full value of your contents. If you're an
AXA home insurance customer and the worst happens, AXA will offer a dedicated claims handler to see you through your claim.