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 attributable to “freezing occasions” in unoccupied properties, in accordance with Chelsea Skakespeare from insurance coverage consultants Adrian Flux. Right here the family insurance coverage workforce supplies 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 dwelling
If chilly climate is forecast it is smart 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. Go away the heating on
If it’s possible, set your thermostat to 15C. This retains the air inside heat to assist cease inside 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 usually
If your house is to be unoccupied throughout a giant freeze, organize for somebody to go to usually to show the faucets on. It’s more durable for water to freeze if it’s working.
4. Isolate outdoors water provides
In the event you do have uncovered pipework and out of doors faucets take into account having isolators fitted inside the house so you possibly can flip off the availability earlier than a giant freeze. Higher nonetheless, solely flip the availability on if you end up really utilizing exterior faucets.
5. Drain the water system
If your house will likely be unoccupied in chilly climate, take into consideration draining the water system. Learn our helpful weblog on whether or not you need to flip the utility companies off when a house is left unoccupied.
What to do in case your water pipes freeze
In case your pipes do freeze there’s a threat they might burst or joints rupture. If a pipe has burst, flip off the availability on the cease cock and phone a certified 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 are not any leaks it’s stiil advisable to get knowledgeable in, however you would attempt defrosting them your self.
Methods to defrost frozen pipes
Activate the faucets to alleviate stress on the water system. It’ll 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 possibly can in all probability deal with this your self.
Exterior pipes or these in unheated locations resembling lofts are extra weak to freezing temperatures. You might be able to work again from the affected faucet to search out the part that you will want to thaw.
In the event 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 just a few levels could 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 conveyable heater for unheated inside areas such because the storage or loft. If in case you have recognized the pipe that’s frozen a hair dryer could possibly be sufficient to thaw it.
When does an empty dwelling grow to be thought of as unoccupied?
If your house is to be left unoccupied for an prolonged interval learn our weblog outlining 12 jobs you need to do earlier than 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, nevertheless it’s a good suggestion to test in your coverage doc.
Nice insurance coverage, regardless of the climate
If your house is to be left empty for an prolonged interval it ought to be protected by specialist unoccupied dwelling insurance coverage. Name Adrian Flux on 0800 369 8590 for a fast and trouble free quote – alternatively ebook a callback at a time that fits you. In the event you so suppose you want to make a declare after your pipes have frozen, test the phrases and situations of your insurance coverage as all of them differ barely and could possibly be the distinction between a paid and un-paid declare.
