An unoccupied house is extra weak than a house that’s lived in, particularly through the winter months when plummeting temperatures could cause frozen pipes and bursts.
Final yr was one of many worst on document for insurance coverage claims brought on by “freezing occasions” in unoccupied properties, based on Chelsea Skakespeare from insurance coverage specialists Adrian Flux. Right here the household insurance staff gives some recommendation on stopping frozen pipes and what you are able to do in the event that they do freeze.
5 tricks to keep away from freezing pipes in your unoccupied house
If chilly climate is forecast it is sensible to take some easy precautions to stop your pipes from freezing:
1. Insulate pipes and water tanks
Wrap outdoors pipes and people in colder areas of the house with insulation. Insulate water tanks, particularly these in colder locations just like the loft.
2. Depart the heating on
If it’s possible, set your thermostat to 15C. This retains the air inside heat to assist cease inner pipes from freezing. Open cupboard doorways and loft hatches to permit heat air to flow into round pipes below sinks or within the loft.
3. Flip faucets on commonly
If your private home is to be unoccupied throughout a giant freeze, organize for somebody to go to commonly to show the faucets on. It’s more durable for water to freeze if it’s operating.
4. Isolate outdoors water provides
Should you do have uncovered pipework and out of doors faucets take into account having isolators fitted inside the house so you may flip off the availability earlier than a giant freeze. Higher nonetheless, solely flip the availability on when you find yourself really utilizing exterior faucets.
5. Drain the water system
If your private home shall be unoccupied in chilly climate, take into consideration draining the water system. Learn our helpful weblog on whether or not you need to turn the utility services off when a home is left unoccupied.
What to do in case your water pipes freeze
In case your pipes do freeze there’s a danger they could burst or joints rupture. If a pipe has burst, flip off the availability on the cease cock and make contact with a professional plumber. Go to the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering to discover a plumber in your space.
In case your pipes are solely frozen however there aren’t any leaks it’s stiil advisable to get knowledgeable in, however you would attempt defrosting them your self.
defrost frozen pipes
Activate the faucets to alleviate stress on the water system. It’s going to additionally point out which pipe is frozen.
If water doesn’t come out of a number of faucets, you need to name a plumber but when just one faucet is affected, you may most likely deal with this your self.
Exterior pipes or these in unheated locations akin to lofts are extra weak to freezing temperatures. You could possibly work again from the affected faucet to seek out the part that you’ll want to thaw.
Should you’re undecided the place the frozen pipe is or it’s not straightforward to get to, flip up the heating. Rising the air temperature by a couple of levels might thaw affected pipes.
Open cabinets and loft hatches to let the nice and cozy air flow into round all pipework. To hurry the method you would use a transportable heater for unheated inner areas such because the storage or loft. When you’ve got recognized the pipe that’s frozen a hair dryer may very well be sufficient to thaw it.
When does an empty house turn into thought-about as unoccupied?
If your private home is to be left unoccupied for an prolonged interval learn our weblog outlining 12 jobs you must do before leaving your property empty.
Most insurance coverage insurance policies regard a property as being unoccupied whether it is to be left empty for 30 days or extra, but it surely’s a good suggestion to test in your coverage doc.
Nice insurance coverage, regardless of the climate
If your private home is to be left empty for an prolonged interval it must be protected by specialist unoccupied home insurance. Name Adrian Flux on 0800 369 8590 for a fast and problem free quote – alternatively book a callback at a time that fits you. Should you so assume it’s essential make a declare after your pipes have frozen, test the phrases and circumstances of your insurance coverage as all of them differ barely and may very well be the distinction between a paid and un-paid declare.
