Prepare yourself for the 'Beast from the East'

Along with the recent cold conditions comes the risk of burst pipes. A small pipe fracture can release thousands of gallons of water and if left unnoticed, can cause immense damage to your property. Claims costs average around £25,000, however, within high net worth insurance it is not unusual to increase upwards of £100,000.

Here are some top tips on preparing yourself for the 'Beast from the East':

Isolate the mains

• Locate the stopcock and check it can be turned off.

Heating installation

• To avoid boiler breakdowns in winter, get a qualified plumber/heating engineer to service your heating system annually to ensure it is running efficiently. It would also be wise to obtain advice from your chosen qualified plumber/heating engineer on how to drain down the water and central heating system to remove the threat of water entirely.

Outside taps

• Place an insulation jacket on outside taps and associated pipe work to avoid freezing weather, or install an isolation valve to the outside water supply to allow the water to be shut off.

Insulation

• Make sure there is adequate insulation within loft spaces and around water tanks and remember to not insulate underneath a cold water tank as rising heat will help prevent freezing.

Maintain temperature

• Maintain a minimum room temperature of 15°C when the property is left unattended. It is also sensible to leave loft hatches and cupboard doors open to allow warm air to circulate to more exposed areas.

Install water leak detection

• Consider installation of a water leak detection system as it monitors the water flow and pressure. Based on normal water usage, the system responds when there is unexpected flow duration or excessive flow rate – these are symptomatic of an escape of water. Some water leak detection systems can also be linked to the fire and intruder alarm, complementing the risk prevention and protection you may have in operation at your home and some insurers will even provide an insurance discount for having a water leak detector installed.

Should you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact Eastwood Private Clients as we have established relationships with various installers if you wish to invest in additional protection for your property.