Aviva warns of the dangers of burst pipes as milder temperatures are expected over the coming weekend
Thursday, 9 January 2025, Dublin: As the country awaits the return to milder temperatures this weekend, Met Éireann's forecast looks set to bring relief to homeowners and businesses grappling in the aftermath of a week-long snow and sub-zero temperatures. However, Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC (Aviva) warns that the thaw could introduce new hazards, particularly with the risk of burst pipes.
Burst pipes occur when thawed water begins to flow and exerts pressure on still-frozen sections of the pipe, potentially leading to flooding. To help mitigate this risk, Aviva has compiled a list of essential steps for homeowners and businesses to better protect their properties as we return to milder, more normal temperatures for this time of year.
Homeowners Advice:
- Leave your heating on at a low temperature (minimum of 13°C (55°F) for longer.
- Continue to turn on each tap and flush the toilets regularly as this will help identify a frozen pipe if the water flow is unusually slow or stopped.
- Check the obvious places like pipes in unheated areas of your home (attic) or outside.
- If you do find a frozen pipe, you can try gently thawing it using a hairdryer on the lowest setting, a hot water bottle, or warm towels.
- Leave any cabinets and presses that hide pipes in your home open and the attic trap door so that warm air can circulate around the pipes.
- If you live in an apartment, look out for signs of water leaking from any unoccupied units.
- Turn off the water completely if you are leaving your property unoccupied for more than 24 hours or, if you have a holiday home and can’t check it yourself, ask a neighbour to do so.
Advice for business owners:
- If your premises is unoccupied over the weekend, make regular checks to ensure all is well.
- Ensure that all external hose pipes are disconnected to avoid freezing and damaging the main pipe network.
- Flat roofed buildings can accumulate frozen snow and, when the thaw comes, this can slide off in blocks, so care is needed when walking near these buildings.
In the event that a pipe bursts in your home or business, you need to act fast to help minimise the damage caused. Firstly, turn off the water before calling your plumber. Drain your pipe system by turning on all cold taps and flushing toilets and switch off any heating installations and then turn on the hot taps to fully drain the system. Ensure that all electrics are safe but if any have gotten wet, turn off the power at the mains.
Commenting Gillian Devereux, Senior Loss Adjuster, Aviva
“Soak up any escaped water, including with towels and buckets as required. Many insurers provide home emergency cover on the insurance policy. This is a 24/7 service that is available and contact details can be found on your policy document or the company website. We recommend that you contact your insurer as soon as possible to get advice as to what to do next. They are available to help manage your claim. We also recommend that you take photographs of any damage to your property,” concluded Gillian Devereux.