Five top tips to avoid escape of water in High Net Worth properties
08/02/2021
Zurich provides cover for Escape of Water (EOW) claims under our household insurance policy, but we also work with our customers to make recommendations around preventing incidents in the first place. EOW claims are very disruptive and stressful for householders. In severe cases, occupants may have to live in temporary alternative accommodation for several months, whilst repairs are taking place. Residents may find that their whole home has been damaged and that sentimental belongings have been destroyed beyond repair, which is incredibly upsetting.
However, in our claims experience, regular inspections and early detection can mean the difference between small damage that’s quick to fix and a loss that costs several hundreds of thousands of pounds to rectify - while causing massive disruption to policyholders. So, regardless if your clients are going away for a couple of weeks or taking a short weekend break, they’ll want to ensure that their property is protected from leaks and flooding while they’re gone. We will share some of the most important EOW guidance throughout this article.
Top tips to prevent an escape of water incident at home
Before setting off on a trip, here are five top tips for your clients to help prevent water damage whilst going away:
1. Home insurance – right protection. Your clients should check they have the right protection for their needs and that it remains valid for the entire time they are on a getaway. While having insurance, but not accurately valuing their home and its contents, they could find themselves underinsured. Consequently, if they go to make a home insurance claim, the policy might not cover the entire cost of repairs needed or the full cost of replacing their goods. The best way to ensure they have the right level of cover is to speak to an insurance expert.
2. Water leak detectors. Your clients can protect their property against hidden water leaks, by using a water leak detector. Many of them are easy to install, they can monitor the water system 24/7 and send updates and alerts to a smartphone or chosen device whilst your clients are away. When there is an issue, some can even switch off the water supply in your client’s absence, to prevent flooding. Other smart home gadgets can be integrated with the water leak detector, such as Amazon’s Alexa. Housekeeping Institute has evaluated smart water leak detectors here.
We’ve recently partnered with Geo to provide Zurich Private Clients customers with 10% off the cost of installing their Waterlock product. To find out more about this offer please speak to our Zurich Private Clients team.
3. Who to call to fix an escape of water incident? Often leaks occur due to the age of the pipe, a weakness in the pipe, leaking fittings or joints and movement in the ground. They don't want to be caught unaware by a burst pipe when they are away from home as undiscovered leaks can cause further damage to properties especially if gone unnoticed for a period of time. ‘Quick fixes’ have the potential to do serious harm, because leaks can spread or go undetected under floorboards or in walls until it’s too late. Your clients should find a local plumber, approved by the national accreditation body for plumbers, WaterSafe. ‘Red flags’ to look out for, which may signal having a water issue, include, loss of water pressure, rust, water stains on walls, floors or carpets, or mould on walls or ceilings. At the earliest sign of a problem, no matter how small, an expert should be contacted.
4. Make a plan for leaving the property empty. Ensure all taps are turned off (even one with a slight drip can loosen and cause a flood). In colder months leave heating on low and constant to ensure water pressure does not suddenly dip and then surge when the heating comes back on. Ask for someone to look into your home each day to check that all is well. Leave an emergency contact number, details of where to locate your properties stop-cock and also your Policy details with a trusted person.
5. Treasure sentimental items. Any valuables or sentimental items that could get damaged by flooding, should be placed in waterproof containers or in a waterproof safe and store them at height if possible. The same goes for important documents, film photographs or faded letters, as damage to these items could be permanent.
The unpleasantness and emotional impact of an EOW incident and having to put a home back together again following a claim should not be underestimated. So before setting off on the next break, it really is important to follow preventative advice.
For more information about Escape of Water speak to a member of our Zurich Private Clients team.
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