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Home Insurance Broker Offers Frozen Pipe Warning






Posted by Editor on 10th January 2010 at 12:09 AM
Home Insurance Broker Offers Frozen Pipe Warning
As freezing conditions continue across Greater Manchester, homeowners are being advised to safeguard their pipes from freezing.

With Britain in the midst of its coldest winter in three decades and temperatures plummeting as low as -18C in some parts of the UK, Swinton, the UK's leading high street retailer of home insurance, is urging homeowners to take precautionary measures against the sub-zero temperatures.

With around 300 gallons of water passing through a pipe in just 10 minutes, frozen and burst pipes can cause thousands of pounds of damage. Every winter, Swinton sees a surge in claims for water-soaked homes - the majority from burst pipes.

Swinton is urging homeowners who are planning a winter break, to ensure they leave their central heating on low so that warm air can circulate throughout their house. When homes are left empty, burst or leaking pipes often aren't discovered for days causing damage to get progressively worse.

Steve Chelton, insurer development manager at Swinton said: "Damage caused by frozen and burst pipes is generally covered under most contents and buildings insurance policies. If homeowners have plans to go away for a longer holiday over the winter period, we would advise they contact their home insurance provider to check their cover."

Swinton is offering the following advice to help prevent pipes from freezing:

-- Keep your home as warm as possible even if you are out

-- Lag pipes in exposed or draughty places

-- Leave the trap door to roof space open to allow a warm air flow in

-- Ensure taps are turned off properly, especially at night

-- Familiarise yourself with your water supply system and make sure you know the location of your main stopcock which turns off the water supply to your property

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