Householders urged to prevent burst pipe misery this winter

The exceptionally cold weather conditions during January 2010 saw a 220 per cent increase in the number of M&S Home Insurance claims for burst pipes.
Householders who left their properties empty even for just a few days returned to find that frozen water had caused pipes and tanks to burst, resulting in thousands of pounds worth of damage. In some cases more than £100,000 worth of damage was caused throughout the house.
Example claims from winter 09/10:
Customer A went on holiday for two weeks. On the 8th day sub zero temperatures cause a pipe in the loft to freeze causing a large escape of water, resulting in more than £180,000 worth of damage.
Customer B went to Australia for two months and arranged for the property to be inspected every seven days. On the 28th day sub zero temperatures cause pipes to freeze, again in the loft, causing £120,000 worth of damage in less than 24 hours.
In both cases had the water been turned off at the mains and the water drained from the system, there would have been no damage.
M&S Home Insurance provides unlimited cover for damage caused when water escapes from the pipes or water tank as a result of frozen water. Customers are also covered for ‘trace and access' – finding the source of the leak which may involve the removal of bathroom tiles or fittings.
M&S Home Insurance customers have the option of adding home emergency cover to their policy1, giving them extra protection against home emergencies such as plumbing problems relating to leaking pipes or failure of the central heating system or boiler.
The most common type of home insurance emergency claim over the 2009 winter months was for water claims, including burst pipes.
Andrew Ferguson, M&S head of general insurance, said: “Many householders may not realise the huge amount of damage and hassle that can be caused by burst pipes. Escape of water can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage by destroying ceilings, furniture and irreplaceable personal belongings.
“Those planning to go away this winter can take simple precautions to guard against burst pipes. For example it's always worth asking a friend or neighbour to check your house once every few whilst you're away to make sure everything is in order.”
As pipes are most likely to burst during cold weather spells and when homes are left empty, it's worth taking the following steps before you go away, to give yourself some extra peace of mind:
1. Keep your home's central heating at a minimum temperature of 12ºC (55f), if it's likely to drop below freezing whilst you're away.
2. Insulate pipes in your home's attic and crawl spaces, as these exposed pipes are the most likely to freeze. The more insulated they are, the better protected they'll be.
3. Look for small gaps around the areas where your television, cable or telephone lines come through your wall, and seal them up to stop any cold air getting through.
4. As kitchen and bathroom cabinets can keep warm air from reaching pipes under sinks and in adjacent outside walls, keep the cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate.
5. Lag your loft, cold water storage tank and water pipes.
6. Leave your loft hatch door open, as allowing warmer air to reach the loft can stop your water tank freezing.
7. If you're away for a long time over the winter, it may even be worth draining your system completely.