Burst pipe claims soar as homeowners keep the heating off

New analysis from Zurich Insurance reveals that the number of burst pipes in British homes soared last year by 75% as 13 million¹ households didn’t put their heating on.

Experts at the insurance giant warn a similar crisis could play out this winter as energy bills remain high. In fact, households risk facing damage costs of up to £12,791 if frozen pipes lead to escape of water in their home.

With temperatures across the UK set to drop by the end of the month, data from Zurich UK reveals that December 2022 saw 77% more claims, compared to the same period the previous year, as the 'big freeze’ swept across the UK. The sub-zero conditions froze the water in pipes, causing them to expand and eventually split from the pressure.

While energy bills have dropped in recent months, they remain historically high, sparking fears that this winter could see a similarly high number of burst pipe incidents. Despite the UK currently experiencing milder temperatures than last year, when temperatures drop below zero the risk of burst pipes and escape of water rises. In the worst cases, a burst pipe often means people are forced into alternative accommodation, while a property is dried and repaired.

Not only have burst pipes become more common, but the damage they cause is becoming more expensive to repair. The average cost of repairing damage due to escape of water rose from £8,663 in 2021 to £12,791 last year, Zurich’s analysis reveals.

According to the Association of British Insurers, escape of water was a significant issue for both residential and commercial buildings in 2022 with a total of £987m worth of claims made across the year, a 15% increase over 2021. This amounts to an average of around £2.7m worth of escape of water losses every single day.

Paul Redington, Regional Major Loss Manager, Zurich UK, said:

“As temperatures begin to drop, the risk of frozen water leading to burst and damaged pipes rises. Much of this can be attributed to both households and businesses looking to tighten their ‘heating belts’ in the current economic climate. While high energy bills mean some people delay turning the heating on, they should be aware that escape of water could potentially lead to thousands of pounds’ worth of damage, and even the misery of potentially being out of your home at Christmas.

“Last year millions of people left their heating off for longer than usual, and recent research² suggests that even more are planning to do so this year. We encourage homeowners to have their heating set to at least 10°C at all times and follow our simple steps below to help mitigate the risk of escape of water.”

Redington’s top ten tips for burst pipes and escape of water:

• The loft space of a well-insulated property will be much colder, so pipes need to lagged. This includes insulating external taps, or pipes that feed combi boilers to protect from frost.
• Consider investing in water leak detection. Many systems are easy to install and can be linked to a smartphone. Some can even switch off the water flow in the event of a problem.
• Know where your stopcock is and how to turn it off, always test it twice a year to make sure it’s working.
• To prevent water pipes freezing, set heating system thermostats to at least 10°C to maintain an ambient temperature.
• If buildings are to be left unoccupied for an extended period, check your insurance policy. You may need to drain all pipes, tanks and heating systems and disconnect water supplies
• Use an approved contractor to fit plumbing and related appliances.
• Check sealant and grout around shower trays, bathroom and kitchen fittings; ensuring they are maintained and in good condition
• Check for leaks in high-risk areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and boiler rooms at least once a year.
• Maintain all heating appliances in accordance with manufacturers guidance and consider an annual inspection and maintenance contract.
• Ensure your insurance details, and any emergency call-out numbers are always to hand.

Notes to editors

• Which? survey of 4,000 nationally representative consumers
• uSwitch data, 2/10/23