The Danger Of Escape Of Water

What is escape of water?

“Escape of water” is a term used to describe a water leak in your home. This could be due to a burst pipe, a malfunction in appliance connections (such as a washing machine) or a blocked drain.

Why does this happen?

A pipe can burst at any time of the year. A minor perforation to a water pipe can be hard to detect and trickier to locate, leading to a burst pipe. However, this is more common when a home has been left unoccupied for a couple of days so the pipes haven’t been used recently or during winter months when freezing temperatures can expand water in the pipes, causing them to burst.

A water hose connection between your washing machine and the wall can loosen over time due to the constant vibrations from washing cycles. This could be a simple fix, however, how often do you really check behind your household appliances?

These can be heart-wrenching and worrisome events for homeowners.

There are several factors that cause high costs to insurers when it comes to settling escape of water claims. Our homes have many appliances and systems that use water, such as dishwashers, central and under-floor heating and built-in fridge/freezers. We also keep most of our possessions inside the home, many of which are high value, such as smart TVs and other electronic devices.

Modern build properties tend to have concealed pipework and water mains are often hidden. That means any minor leak is harder to identify and more expensive to fix. All policies placed through Source Insurance have £5,000 Trace and Access cover included as standard, which means that your home insurance policy can cover the costs of finding the source of the leak, in the event of an escape of water claim.

Can I prevent this happening?

On a positive note, there is some clever tech out there that can help prevent an escape of water incident from occurring, or reduce the potential damage if it does. Some insurers have teamed up with these tech companies to give policyholders access to devices that can detect small hidden leaks and alert the homeowner. While still in their infancy, these devices could well prove revolutionary when it comes to minimising the risk and the cost.

In the meantime, there are a number of basic measures that homeowners can take to try and prevent the heartache of a burst pipe:

• Insulate water tanks and lag pipes – most DIY stores sell the materials
• Fix dripping taps as soon as possible – even the smallest trickle can result in a frozen pipe in winter
• Locate the internal stopcock or valve so you can quickly turn it off if the worst happens
• If you’re going away during the colder months, leave the heating on low 24/7 or consider turning the water off and draining down the system

Remember that most claims won’t be paid out if the damage is due to general wear and tear, poor design or poor workmanship. It is vital to make sure that you seek a qualified professional for any plumbing work to be carried out and keep up with regular maintenance to ensure longevity.

A few simple steps can make a big difference to avoid becoming the victim of what is a distressing event to go through, as well as having to suffer the added pain of a likely increase in premium when it comes to renewal.

Talk to your Source broker today about finding the right insurance policy to protect your home.