Protecting your home in the cold weather

Insurance claims for burst pipes and tanks have been reported to be twice as high as last year as the cold weather affects homes across the UK.

Many homeowners appear to be unaware of how high they need to set their heating in order to stop pipes freezing during the winter months - Halifax home insurance recommends that thermostats be set to at least 10 degrees.

In the case of some modern boilers, there is a frost protection thermostat which automatically comes on if the temperature falls to a level which causes pipes to freeze.

Perhaps most surprising of all is the fact that homes with loft insulation could be more at risk because the warmth from the downstairs of the house cannot penetrate upwards.

"Remember to remove the hatch to your loft so that warm air can circulate," advises a spokeswoman from Norwich Union.

"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 manager, Neil Laird said that in recent weeks, the company had seen more claims related to water damage than would be expected during milder weather.

"Temperatures have dropped to as low as -10C, and, with more cold weather predicted, we expect to see more claims linked to water damage," he explained.

Mr. Laird went on to say that there had been instances this year where people had turned their heating off, gone away for several days, and come back to find terrible damage.

"This really is a no-no," he said, "Warm water must be kept circulating, even if it's for a short period each day."

The majority of insurance companies have a checklist for homeowners to follow in order to prevent such damage during the cold months.

Direct Line's checklist includes such tips as:

• Insulate pipes with preformed insulation;
• Replace washers on dripping taps because if the taps freeze, the pipe will become blocked;
• Find out where your water valves are and how to turn them off in case a pipe should burst;
• Put the heating on low when the weather is very cold, or set it to come on a couple of times during the day, particularly if you're going away;
• On cold days, leave the loft door open to let the heat from downstairs circulate;
• Check your level of buildings and contents insurance cover;
• Remember, there is a risk that your insurance provider might not pay out if you're on an extended break and your home is subsequently left vacant for a certain period of time (typically more than 45 to 60 days).

Source: guardian.co.uk | Last updated: 24th January 2009

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