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Insurers are counting the cost of some of the coldest winter weather in a decade, with claims for burst pipes and tanks running at double the levels of last year. Families who have turned the thermostat down too low while away on a Christmas break have returned to homes wrecked by mains-pressure water pouring through ceilings and floors for days.
Many households are unaware just how high thermostats need to be to prevent freezing pipes. Halifax home insurance recommends central heating is set at a minimum of 10 degrees.
Some modern boilers have a frost protection thermostat which turns on automatically if the temperature drops to a level that causes pipes to freeze.
Paradoxically, homes with proper loft insulation may be more at risk, as the heat from downstairs fails to penetrate upwards. A Norwich Union spokeswoman says: "Remember to remove the hatch to your loft so that warm air can circulate. This may appear environmentally unfriendly, or a little extravagant but it might mean the difference between a ruined home or a dry one when you return after a break."
Sainsbury's home insurance estimates that since 22 December, the UK insurance industry has received more than 13,000 home insurance claims linked to water damage under the category of "forcible/violent bursting", and it says the freezing weather has contributed to this.
It estimates the value of these claims is already close to £30m. Neil Laird, Sainsbury's home insurance manager, says: "There have certainly been more claims linked to water damage in recent weeks than we'd expect to see when the weather is milder. Temperatures have dropped to as low as -10C, and, with more cold weather predicted, we expect to see more claims linked to water damage.
"There have been cases this year where people have gone away for a few days, switched their heating off and returned to terrible damage. This really is a no-no. Warm water must be kept circulating, even if it's for a short period each day."
Most insurers have a checklist that households should follow to avoid being caught out by a big freeze.
Direct Line says:
• Insulate your pipes with preformed insulation, and replace the washers on any dripping taps - if the taps freeze, the pipe will get blocked.
• Know where your water valves are, and learn how to shut them off in case a pipe does burst.
• In very cold weather the heating will need to be on low, or set to come on a couple of times a day, especially if you're going away.
• Open the loft trapdoor on cold days to let heat in.
And do check your level of buildings and contents cover. Note, if you are away from your property on an extended break - typically more than 45 to 60 days - there is the risk your policy may not pay out.
When it all becomes very personal
As a personal finance journalist Patrick Collinson is "trained to be sceptical" about financial products. But when his parents' home was wrecked by a frozen pipe, he admits the experience has converted him to comprehensive buildings and contents insurance.
The house will need at least four months' work to restore it. Three ceilings have collapsed, others are close to coming down. Beds, sofas and virtually every carpet have been ruined. Kitchen units are warped, parquet floors wrecked. When my desperately house-proud parents return from a holiday in Thailand today, they will find their beautifully cared for home damaged almost beyond belief. And all because of a frozen pipe in the loft.
A family friend first alerted us last week. Using torchlight in frozen conditions, we located the insurance policy - thankfully my father, a retired accountant, is a stickler for filing. He has a Saga policy, so we got on the phone straight away. Within 24 hours, a snapshot assessment was made - that the house had been nearly 70% damaged. The next day a van delivered dehumidifiers - but drying out could take up to a month. The guys who carted away the sodden carpets said they'd never been as busy as in the past fortnight.
Finding accommodation, dealing with letting agents and sorting out moving undamaged furniture, have been headaches. And a removal firm's reasonable first quote doubled later in the week.
What have I learned? Don't go for the cheapest insurance cover. File your documents in a safe place where others can locate them quickly. And ... removal firms are a tricky bunch.
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