Emily Warren from NFU Mutual Cobham offers tips on how to protect your home from water damage and what to do in an emergency.

Damage from a water leak is one of the most common reasons for home insurance claims. It can be expensive and time consuming to put right, often requiring homeowners to move into alternative accommodation for weeks, or even months.

• Make sure you and your family know where the stopcock is to cut off the water supply.

  
  

• Check for leaks and signs of corrosion around the home on radiators and plumbing.

  
  

• Consider using a pipe detector before drilling into your walls to avoid hitting a pipe.

  
  

• Protect your pipes from freezing by insulating exposed pipes, and ensuring your thermostat

  maintains a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius to keep warm water circulating.

  
  

• Check what your home insurance offers for alternative accommodation, home emergency, and trace and access services (to find the source of the leak), and that these meet your and you family's needs.

And, if you do discover a water leak, follow these steps to act quickly:

• Turn off the water supply to prevent more water from flowing into the pipes and causing further damage.

  
  

• Once the water is off, turn on all the cold taps to drain excess water from the system.

  
  

• Turn off any immersion heater and central heating to prevent heating the system whilst it’s empty, as this could cause damage.

  
  

• If in doubt whether water has leaked onto any electrics, turn off the electricity supply immediately at the fusebox. Be cautious, wet electrical wiring or sockets can be dangerous so do not touch them.

  
  

• Check for water damage, in particular ceilings bulging caused by water pooling above. Stay clear of any ceilings which are bulging significantly, in case they collapse.

  
  

• Consult a professional, whether that’s through your insurance provider or privately, and ensure you consult a plumber and electrician before the water and electricity are turned back on.

At NFU Mutual, we understand the complexities of homeownership. That’s why NFU Mutual Bespoke Home Insurance comes with home emergency cover, alternative accommodation, and trace and access as standard.

 To find out more about our tailored cover for homes and contents, contact NFU Mutual Cobham at

Cobham@nfumutual.co.uk, or call us.

This is an advertisement feature from NFU Mutual Cobham a Wentworth Lifestyle Partner