WAtERDAmAgE


Have you ever looked at your insurance renewal documents to find your Buildings premiumhas risen well beyond inflation? Often the increase is due to the cost of your claims – but you CAN do something about it


RiskManagement is thekey to reducing claims andalsotomaintainingorreducing your insurance premium.Water damage accounts for around 75%of insurance claimsinflatsand apartments.Itgenerally occurs followinginadequatemaintenance leadingtocorrosion of internal andexternal pipework,leakage of copper pipe or failure of plasticpipejoints, poormaintenanceof seals around bath andshowerareas,and accidental damage to hiddenpipes.


HoWto REDUCE tHE RISk ofWAtERDAmAgE


FIRST–ENSUREALL PIPESANDTANKS EXPOSEDTOWINTERTEMPERATURES


AREWELL INSULATED, then nBeawareoftheequipmentandinstallations in your blockthatare capableofcausinga problem,forexample,boilers,showers& washingmachines.Guidance should beput in placefor allresidentstoensureregular checks arecarriedoutaspartofaplanned


preventativemaintenanceprogramme. nAdvise allleaseholdersonwhat todointhe eventofaleak,howtoisolatetheirwatersupply


orshutdowncentralheatingsystems etc. nEnsure allleaseholders knowwherethe stop cocksare located. Theseshouldbe accessible and easily turned. Stop cocks can


seize due to minimal usage. nOnly useapproved contractorswhen maintenance, repairsorreplacement works are carried out.


14 Flat Living GUIDETO INSURANCE


In your kitchen andbathroom nCheck applianceinlet andoutletfittings


annually. nCleandoorcollarseals on washing machines anddishwashers,replacing any


that are damaged or worn. nAnnually checkthatthe sealaroundyour


bath and/or shower is watertight. nDon’t allowyour bath to overflow! nEnsure plugs arenot in thedrain holes


when not in use. nReplace washers in leaking taps and


overflowing cisterns as soon as possible. nEnsure overflowpipes canrelease water effectively.


With your Central Heating nCarryout an annual checkoncentral


heatingtanks andsystems. nEnsure “shutoff” valves arelocatedin easily accessible places andthatyou know


howto use them. nCheckradiatorvalvesregularly forleaks. nPriortounoccupancy formorethanafew


days during thewinterperiodleave central heatingONand at alow setting to prevent the pipes fromfreezing.


Externally nCheck drains annually and clear as


necessary. nLook outfor dripping pipe outlets, as it


may be due to an overflowing cistern. nCleargutters regularlyand consider installing gutter guards.


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