Do you know where to find your home’s main stop-cock?

A quarter of homeowners do not!

Escape of water – burst pipes, leaking boilers, poorly installed washing machines – costs £2.5m in repairs every single day of the year. That’s nearly £1bn a year. It accounts for over a quarter of all property insurance claims. Yet much of it should be avoidable.

The cost of the average claim has risen by a staggering one-third in the past three years. The reason is partly the increase in water-fed spots in the home – en-suites, downstairs loos and wet rooms. Not to mention hidden pipes or sophisticated plumbed-in appliances like central heating radiators, dishwashers and under-floor heating. They can all spring leaks. When they do, it’s in the context of more expensive collateral damage because of the increasingly high standards of home décor, for example, reclaimed wood floors, handmade rugs and bespoke furnishing.

If you’ve ever suffered water damage, you’ll know the destruction it can cause.  The ruination of floors, the collapse of ceilings, the irreparable damage to treasured possessions.  Even a minor leak that is difficult to trace, can lead to major disruption and cost in the effort to find its source.

None of us wants to face this devastation and heartache.  But how many of us know even the simple things – like the whereabouts of the main stop-cock to switch off the torrent?

So, what can be done to help prevent or limit this damage?

Here are a few simple tips:

• Know where your main stop-cock is sited.  It’s usually under the sink in the kitchen.  Turn it off-and-on every few months just to make sure it is not stuck.
• Give your water appliances a regular visual check.  Are there any little tell-tale signs of leakage: dampness, drips, rust or, perhaps, low pressure in the boiler?
• Upgrade old appliances and their connectors.  It’s not just boilers and washing machines, themselves, that age – their plumbing connections do, too.  The average life-span of a washing machine hose is just nine years.
• Protect your pipes. Make sure pipes exposed to the cold are properly lagged.
• Control indoor temperatures.  Set your heating to come on at between 12oC -15oC for a set period every day – particularly if it’s cold or if you’re away from home for a while.
• Turn-off your water when you go away on holiday.  Did you know that 48 bathtubs of water can escape from a single pipe in a single day!  Just think of the mess!
• If the worst happens … Put a bucket under the leak to catch the water.  Turn-off your stop-cock. Turn-on taps elsewhere to help reduce pressure.  If it’s a bad leak – and it’s still safe to do so – turn off your electricity supply.  … And always keep the telephone number of a good emergency plumber handy.

Leak Protection System

It’s also worth considering leak protection systems like Leaksafe.  They can automatically shut off the water supply when you’re out or away.  Also, they are specifically designed to detect excessive flow of water or escaping moisture.  When they do, again they automatically shut down your water supply – helping reduce the risk of collateral damage to your property or possessions.

Graham Morgan-Tolworthy, Private Clients’ Manager, comments:

“The smallest of leaks can quickly become a torrent causing untold damage – particularly if you are away from home. That’s why, as well as taking sensible precautions, you need dependable insurance.” 

For more information, get in touch with:

Graham Morgan-Tolworthy

0207 330 8725

gmt@centor.co.uk

Alternatively, click here for more information.

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