December 2022 proved to be the largest burst pipe surge seen in many a year in the UK. With temperatures staying below -10 for a prolonged length of time causing frozen pipes to burst. People turning down their heating to save money during the recent cold snap has led to a surge in pipes freezing. Sadly the problem seems to have been exacerbated as people try to reduce energy consumption. The result of of so many claims in such a short period will result in many policy holders having mitigation works initially carried out, with full water damage restoration carried out at a later date. This will inevitably extend the timeframe of completion of works well into 2023.
The devastation of undetected pipe burst in the loft of a property can occur rapidly as full water pressure is released when the frozen split pipe thaws.
The water damage restoration industry has again proven it’s worth, with every company working all hours to help all affected from their burst water pipe. Each water damage assessment company is at full capacity with a high influx of claims in a very short time period (aka Surge situation)
Following the initial burst pipe repair, mitigation appears to be the order of the day as drying equipment is at a premium with not enough equipment to round, such is the volume of claims registered in such a short timeframe.
Mitigation involves initial removal of saturated contents, minor strip out of building and installing enough drying kit to prevent secondary damage and to stabilise the property, with a view to return to fully dry out later
No figures to the amount of claims will be disclosed until the end of this quarter, but previous years give an indication of the severity in numbers, this cold snap has created.
More than 100,000 properties suffered burst pipes following the December 2010 Big Freeze, causing £680million of damage.
And burst pipe insurance claims rocketed 1,000 per cent after the ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018.
The Association of British Insurers says the average repair bill is £9,300. After the thaw,
To reduce the risk of frozen pipes this winter:
- Taking some simple steps, like insulating water pipes and water tanks in the loft, using draught excluders around doors can help keep your home warm and reduce energy bills.
- If you have a smart thermostat, most will have an anti-frost setting to keep your home heated to a very minimal temperature that will stop pipes from freezing. If you do not have a smart meter, most radiators will have a setting with a snowflake symbol – turn to this setting to allow minimal water flow between pipes and radiators to prevent freezing. Consider setting the heating on a timer if you are going away.
- Know where your stopcock, that turns off the incoming water supply, is and test that it works. It is usually found under the kitchen sink. If you cannot locate it, ask a neighbour, or seek advice from an approved plumber.
- If you are going on holiday, or leaving your home unoccupied, consider turning off the water at the stopcock to reduce the risk of pipes freezing and bursting. See below on if your home is unoccupied.
- Repair any dripping taps. This will help prevent water from freezing.
If your pipes freeze the advice is to:
- Immediately turn the water mains off via the stopcock. Wait for the pipes to warm up, or you can try and thaw them with a hot water bottle.
- Do not attempt to dislodge the ice using a hammer or melt it with a blow touch, it is highly likely that this will cause more damage.
- Move any possessions, such as furniture or clothing, which are near frozen pipes in case the pipe bursts.
If your pipe bursts:
- Turn off the water at the stopcock. Switch off central heating and any other water heating installations. Open all taps to drain the system.
- Move any possessions, such as furniture or clothing, to prevent further damage to property.
- In both instances, contact your insurer straight away to seek advice, many insurers operate 24-hour helplines. They will advise on next steps and help to arrange professional repairs to be carried out.
If you plan to leave your home unoccupied check your home insurance policy to see if there are any restrictions in cover or specific requirements if your home is left unoccupied for more than a specified period of time, such as 30 days or more.
