The cold nights are just around the corner, so here’s some handy advice from NFU Mutual;
NFU Mutual is warning home and business owners to watch out for the signs of frozen pipes as temperatures plummet this week, as claims data from the home insurer shows damage from escape of water costs over £15,000 on average.
The first cold snap of this year, expected to last throughout the week, could bring temperatures as low as minus 10 degree Celsius to parts of the UK. Scotland and North East England are expected to be worse affected, and NFU Mutual is advising all property owners to take action to avoid devastating damage from frozen pipes.
The process of freezing causes water in pipes to expand, which can cause pipes to split or burst, particularly if they already have a small undetected leak. When the pipes thaw, the escape of water can cause rapid and significant damage to a property.
In a survey of 2,000 homeowners carried our for NFU Mutual by OnePoll, just 13% said they were very confident in their ability to recognise the signs of frozen pipes, with just one in 10 very confident that they would know what to do if their pipes froze.
Andrew Chalk, rural insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said:
“Frozen pipes is a hidden danger to our homes, causing significant damage and disruption at the worst of times.
“The problem with frozen pipes is that, while the water remains frozen, the true damage cannot be seen, but when the water thaws it can cause thousands of pounds in water damage. It’s common for an escape of water to cause such damage that it forces a person to vacate their property to allow for repairs and structural work to take place, and the average cost of a water damage claim to NFU Mutual exceeds £15,000.
“So it’s vital that property owners are able to recognise the signs of frozen and act before the thaw hits.
“If taps or your boiler aren’t working, or your toilet stops working, turn off your mains water supply, investigate and call a plumber if necessary. With the water off, you can thaw pipes yourself to check for a leak by holding a hot water bottle to the area – never a naked flame. If you find a leak, call your insurer.
“To prevent pipes from freezing during this cold snap, and into the winter months, keep heating on, at least to a low level, and make sure the warm air can circulate to all parts of the house. You can also consider fitting lagging or other insulation to exposed pipes.”
NFU Mutual has created a handy video on how to recognise and respond to the signs of frozen pipes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJdCCzh5gCA
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