Have you heard of the term “escape of water”? Yeah, neither did I until I read more carefully my home insurance. Let me try to explain it to you. Escape of water is the term that is used to describe a leak in your home.
It includes situations such as a burst pipe or a faulty washing machine connection. If water has escaped and caused damage to your home, then we’re talking about an ‘escape of water’ claim on your home insurance policy.
You would be surprised to find out how often this happens, especially now in modern times when we have more bathrooms, more appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines that could produce damage. It doesn’t even need to be a big leak, with water even the smallest leak can cause big problems if it’s not noticed in time.
Still feeling a little confused? No problem! Let’s take a look at what causes an escape of water and then we will find out how we can prevent things like this to happen.
Blocked drains
It’s so easy to get carried away and do things that might cause our drains to get blocked. If you don’t clean the hair in your shower drainage regularly, you might end up with a big blockage and then you might be in a lot of problems.
In the kitchen, make sure you don’t throw away in the sink cooking oil or leftovers that can become solid and can block your drains. These are some small things that might make all the difference if we pay enough attention.
Burst pipes
This is the most damaging cause of escape of water because when a pipe bursts, the water comes out with a huge pressure and even if you can react fast, you’ll still looking at some damage. You should check your pipes regularly and make sure that in winter the temperature doesn’t go below 12 degrees, that way you can be sure that the pipes won’t freeze.
DIY job
Sadly, many people consider plumbing an easy job that can be done in no time. Well, it’s not and it’s not something that you can learn overnight, so in order to avoid any disasters, it’s best to leave it for the professionals.
Leaky appliances
This might look like a small one, but if you don’t take it seriously, you might end up with big problems. I should also mention that the risk increases with the growing number of appliances, so you should check your pipework regularly for leaks and signs of bulging or cracking.
If the worst happens, you have to remain calm and act fast in order to keep the damage level low. You have to:
- Turn off the main water supply.
- Move electrical items, furniture and irreplaceable possessions away from the affected areas.
- Place buckets under the dripping water.
- Check the electricity.
- Call a professional plumber.
Nearly 50% of all claims handled by Deacon Insurance involve damage caused by water and that’s why it’s so important to check your insurance policy very well, to see what damages it covers and also, make sure that all your plumbing is checked regularly.
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