Everything you need to know
Escape of water is one of the most common causes of damage to a property – and one of the most expensive to repair.
Water can escape for many reasons, from pipes bursting in cold temperatures to faulty appliances leaking after breaking down.
Changes in lifestyles, such as the rise in use of central heating, mean that damage from escape of water is now a greater risk for UK homes than burglary.
When you take into account the value of the average household and its contents, such as wooden floors, fitted kitchens, furniture, carpets and TVs, the damage even a single burst pipe can cause can be significantly costly.
As long as you take the right precautions, you can limit the risk of water damage, or even prevent an escape of water. We’ve put together this brief guide to help you understand the main causes, and have included tips on how to reduce the possibility of it happening in your own home, so that you can avoid the hassle of making a claim.
HOW ESCAPE OF WATER IS CAUSED
Frozen pipes left unlagged in winter can burst when the water inside them starts to thaw, damaging the surrounding walls, floors and furniture. This is particularly common in unoccupied properties when the pipes are not regularly warmed through heating.
Poor construction also heightens the risk of escape of water. Plumbing methods, when applied incorrectly, can lead to faulty installation or joint failure. And, of course, simple human error – leaving valves open prior to changing the water supply system, for example – can cause a leak.
WHAT’S COVERED BY ESCAPE OF WATER COVER?
The Bronze, Silver and Gold policies from TransAtlantic Insurance all cover damage caused by water escaping from (or freezing in) your:
- Water pipes
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Fridges or freezers
- Fixed water systems and tanks
- Fixed central heating systems
This will also include cover for the accidental loss of metered water in your home, subject to policy limits.
Bronze, Silver and Gold policies will cover the cost of removing and replacing any part of your property, if this is necessary to repair heating or water systems that have caused the escape of water.