Escape of water in the home, such as leaking pipes and appliances, can be quite a common occurrence. Undetected leaks, plumbing faults, and burst pipes often cause extensive damage to your buildings and contents and it can cost a large amount of money to ‘mop up’ the damage. While the costs are covered by your Home Insurance policy, escape of water can be incredibly stressful to fix.
How can escape of water affect your household?
An escape of water can impact on your household, both practically and emotionally. On a practical level, even a small leak can quickly escalate, causing significant damage to walls, ceilings, floors, and personal belongings.
On an emotional level, replacing or repairing furnishings and personal effects often takes time and can be stressful. Having to say goodbye to an heirloom that isn’t salvageable and cannot be replaced will be distressing. Taking measures to mitigate the risk of escape of water or addressing the problem should it arise can save you the hassle of restoring your home back to its original condition.
Beyond the physical damage and emotional strain, the psychological stress of dealing with insurers, repair contractors, and the upheaval of normal routines can take a heavy toll.
Structural damage
Water can seep into hidden areas leading to dampness and the spread of mould, which not only harms the property but can also affect the health of your family. Rot can also set in and if you live in an older or listed property, repairs can be costly, requiring specialist tradespeople and building materials.
Essential utilities, such as heating, electricity, and running water, may be interrupted, making day-to-day living uncomfortable and unsafe.
Repairs could be disruptive and may mean you have to temporarily relocate while restoration work is carried out. While insurers make every effort to source suitable alternative accommodation, there is often no guarantee the accommodation will be in close proximity to your home, which could affect travelling to work and school runs. While the costs of repairs can be covered by your Home Insurance, even a small leak can interrupt your routines and home life, plus affect your work life if you work from home.
What can you do to mitigate the risk of an escape of water?
Escape of water insurance is usually part of your Home Insurance policy, but we advise you check your policy or talk to us if you are unclear around what you are covered for. In addition to obtaining the appropriate insurance, here are further steps you can take:
- Check your home’s plumbing and central heating system regularly. You can find a registered, professional plumbing or heating engineer in your area using the search function on the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) website.
- Install a water leak detection There are usually two types of devices to choose from:
1.A simple self-install unit which monitors water flow and alerts you if there is a potential issue. It works by detecting changes to the flow of your water supply and sending you a notification via an alarm or smartphone notification. This will help identify whether there could be an issue and gives you the option of turning off your water supply and conducting further investigations. Some of the insurers we work with provide this type of self-install device free of charge with your Home policy.
2.A more sophisticated device which is installed by a plumber and will automatically stop the water supply in your home if a problem is detected.
Escape of water in residential properties, can lead to serious issues if left undetected. If you are concerned or would like to mitigate the risk of a leak or plumbing fault impacting on your home and daily life, contact us at Lloyd & Whyte Private Client. Or, if you would like advice on how to put through a burst pipe insurance claim with a high-net-worth Home Insurance policy, please talk to our team.
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