Burst pipes can be a ?15,000 holiday horror [Financial Mail on Sunday, London]

Dec. 20--It's something that can ruin the festive fun but few of us do anything to avoid -- burst pipes. There was a 60 per cent rise in claims during the last Christmas and New Year as the freezing temperatures caught many homeowners on the hop.

During December 2008 and January 2009, more households claimed for damage caused by "escape of water" than for either fire or theft, according to insurer Axa.

Yet research by the insurer shows that most of us underestimate the risk. While 57 per cent of homeowners are worried about a burglary while they are away at Christmas, only eight per cent thought a burst pipe might be a problem.

Those of us who are away from home this Christmas are being urged to take some basic precautions to guard against another freeze.

But that might be easier said than done. A separate study by insurer Fortis found that one in seven homeowners did not know where to find their water shut-off valve or stopcock, so they would not be able to disconnect the supply in the event of a leak. This rose to one in three of homeowners aged under 35.

Nick Kidd, head of home insurance at Axa, says: "People don't really understand the importance of protecting their water systems from freezing conditions."

Gordon Hannah, director of claims at insurer esure, says: "Last winter, nearly every large burst pipe claim followed a pattern. Families had gone away, freezing weather caused their pipes to burst -- and they returned a day or two later to widespread destruction of their homes and personal belongings.

"If the burst pipe or damaged water tank is in the attic, water can cascade through the house, bringing down ceilings."

Axa says the average burst pipe claim it paid last winter was about ?15,000. Typically, the biggest portion of a claim is to repair damaged ceilings and redecorate rooms, costing on average just under ?11,000. Ruined furniture and possessions cost on average about ?4,000.

Damage caused by freezing water and leaking or "escaping" water from tanks, pipes, or heating systems is covered as standard under most contents and buildings insurance policies. Water freezing in tanks is also usually covered under buildings insurance.

Greg Gladwell, director of household claims at insurer Aviva, says: "The risk can be worse in traditional properties without modern heating systems or properly insulated pipes. And when homes are left empty, burst or leaking pipes often aren't discovered for many days and damage can get progressively worse.

"The problem starts when the thaw begins. Make sure you have someone who can check on your home regularly, and in particular when temperatures start to rise again. That way any leaks can be spotted early and stopped."

Even a modest claim can be a distressing experience. Marion Allen needed a new carpet and replacement furniture after a pipe burst during a bitterly cold night early last January.

Marion, 75, a retired receptionist, says: "I had an outside tap fitted a few years ago. It is on a north-facing wall and the pipe that led out through the kitchen to the tap froze, then burst."

Her son Godfrey, 48, who lives with Marion, was first downstairs in the morning to make a cup of tea. He found water sloshing around the kitchen and dining room.

"We were squelching across the carpet to move furniture and lift things out of the way," says Marion. Fortunately their kitchen is tiled and the water was not deep enough to damage items in the cupboards. But the dining room was a mess.

Marion, a widow who lives near Trowbridge, Wiltshire and is insured with Fortis through broker RIAS, says: "The insurer sent someone round two days later. They took one look at the dining room carpet and said it was too badly damaged to salvage and so I got a smart new one." A bookcase also needed to be replaced.

This winter Marion has turned off the supply to the outside tap and drained the pipe to prevent a repeat burst.

HOT TIPS HOW TO AVOID THE WATER TORTURE

Taking a few basic precautions if you are away during winter can dramatically reduce the odds of a burst pipe.

--Leave your heating running on its normal timer while you are away, but with the thermostat turned down to between 12 and 15 degrees.

--Turn off the water supply at the stopcock. This means that if there is a burst pipe, water from the mains will not keep on pumping through.

--Anyone going away for an extended period might want to consider draining their water system, says insurer Fortis. But seek advice from a plumber first.

--Check lagging and insulation on exposed water pipes and on your cold water tank. But do not insulate underneath the water tank -- rising heat will help to prevent freezing.

--Nick Kidd from Axa says: "Leave your kitchen cupboard and bathroom cabinet doors open. This will allow warmer air to circulate around any pipes within these cupboards."

--Similarly, if you have a cold water tank in your loft, consider leaving the loft hatch open to let warmer air circulate in the attic.

--A separate problem is the growing number of water damage claims triggered by bodged DIY, with homeowners accidentally drilling or hammering into pipes.

--Fortis says that it is essential to check for hidden pipes with a pipe and wire detection tool before starting any work.

--The British Insurance Brokers' Association and Fortis have produced a free guide on protecting against burst and damaged pipes. You can download it from fortisinsurance.co.uk.

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Copyright (c) 2009, Financial Mail on Sunday, London

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