Escape of Water
When temperatures start to fall, there are a few simple precautions that can be taken to ensure the continued well-being of your home, tenanted property or any other property that you own.
One of the largest dangers to your home in periods of plummeting temperatures is that of burst water pipes. This happens when the water freezes within the pipe, expands thus damaging it, causing an escape when the water thaws.
You should take the following steps to ensure that your property and its contents are not seriously damaged due to an escape of water:
- Ensure that your tanks and water tanks are well lagged. Unlagged pipes are far more likely to freeze in sub-zero temperatures. Insulation materials and lagging are relatively inexpensive and will frequently cost less than the policy excess charged by the insurer in the event of a claim.
- If the property is unoccupied, even a relatively small leak if undiscovered, can cause catastrophic damage. If this is the situation, the water system can either be drained or if thermostatically controlled, the heating system should be left to operate at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.
- If you have a gravity fed water or heating system, one vulnerable area may be the tank in the loft. This is because insulation on the loft floor may prevent the warmth of the house penetrating through increasing the liklihood of an escape of water.
In these circumstances, if the premises are unoccupied. most policies will have an Unoccupied Endorsement, requiring you to take certain steps to avoid freezing pipes. When a property is empty, it is best to drain the water system. Alternatively, if the heating is left in operation, to ensure that warmth circulates in the loft space, the loft hatch should be left open.
We recommend that you read your policy carefully, to know its requirements when a property is empty. If you are in any doubt, simply call us on 0208 651 3131 and we will be happy to discuss.
Advice for bad weather – video
The majority of Escape of Water claims are preventable and taking the above steps before Winter will help protect your investment and the inconvenience of an insurance claim.
Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
Independent advice by approachable staff online or by phone
Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
Competitive Premiums
Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online
Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
Competitive Premiums
Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online
Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
Competitive Premiums
Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
Specialists in Commercial & Residential Insurance
We have over 40 years experience as Residential and Commercial Insurance Brokers. We find the right policy to suit your needs and understand the risks that a property owner can face in the course of ownership. We work closely with our Insurers to get the best rates and our experience and excellent relationships with them mean that we can provide cover for even the most difficult to place risks.
Whether you have an adverse claims history, a high value property or a large portfolio of properties, we can source suitable cover for you. Whatever your requirements, we can tailor a specialist property insurance policy to suit your exact needs and provide you with a range of quotes to choose from. Established in 1976, we are not a call centre but a specialist insurance broker with a traditional office mentality, where the client comes first.
Looking for a quote now? Give us a call on 0800 085 3761 or complete one of our quote request forms.
We are also authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and you can view our registration here.
Get In Touch:
[contact-form-7 id="12585" title="New Callback"]We accept most payment types including:
Robert Fisher is a company director of the Property Insurance Centre, who specialise in Business and Property Insurance, serving clients throughout the United Kingdom. His expertise and career in insurance spans almost twenty years.
Robert’s background is in Building Surveying, which he studied at Heriot-Watt University, where he was awarded a BSc (Hons) degree. Much of his educational background is in Building Structural Safety from an engineering perspective.
The knowledge that Robert gained at undergraduate level has lent itself well, particularly as it has enabled him to evaluate the risks associated with certain buildings. This means he knows how best to place these risks and ultimately insure the properties against such risks.
His in-depth knowledge of various methods of construction has enabled him to easily identify which insurer’s underwriting criteria would best fit each client’s needs and provide the correct levels of cover.
Additionally, Robert is responsible for training the team and ensuring that they are always kept up to date with the latest industry developments. This is an area that he is naturally drawn to because of his inquisitive mind, diligence and passion for passing on knowledge to others.
He is a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and qualified to Level 3 with the CII.
As part of the Level 3 certification, Robert has undertaken modules in Insurance, Legal & Regulatory (IF1), Insurance Claims Handling (IF4) and Insurance Household Products (IF6).
As a condition of CII membership, Robert continues his professional development by keeping abreast of the latest industry developments.
Contents
- 1 Escape of Water
- 2
- 3 Insurance under one roof
- 4 We are specialists in many types of insurance
- 5 Block of Flats
- 6 Unoccupied
- 7 Home Insurance
- 8 Residential Landlord
- 9 Land Liability
- 10 Commercial Property
- 11 Lockup Garage
- 12 Restaurant
- 13 Takeaway
- 14 Classic Car
- 15 Mixed Use
- 16 Tradesmen
- 17 Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
- 18 Independent advice by approachable staff online or by phone
- 19 Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
- 20 Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
- 21 We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
- 22 Competitive Premiums
- 23 Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
- 24 Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
- 25 Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
- 26 Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
- 27 Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online
- 28 Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
- 29 Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
- 30 We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
- 31 Competitive Premiums
- 32 Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
- 33 Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
- 34 Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
- 35 Why choose the Property Insurance Centre
- 36 Independent broker with staff you can speak to by phone or online
- 37 Access to a wide range of insurers to source suitable insurance cover for your needs
- 38 Bespoke Insurance Schemes & Portfolio Policies available
- 39 We can tailor your policy to suit your exact needs to give you complete peace of mind
- 40 Competitive Premiums
- 41 Cover available for the buildings while the property is being converted, renovated or extended
- 42 Over 40 years experience working with the best insurers in the UK
- 43 Excellent communication so that you understand what risks you are insured against
- 44 Specialists in Commercial & Residential Insurance
- 45 Get In Touch:
- 46 We accept most payment types including:
- 47 UK Call Handlers & Dedicated New Business Team
- 48 Call Us on 0800 085 3761
- 49 Robert Fisher
