AEnEAnconvAllismaurismoselienulla KeepyourflatleaK-proof


Flooding due to heavy rain is something that homeowners can’tprevent –theycan onlymake sure they areprepared forthe worst. Internal waterdamageisadifferent matter, somake sure you don’t suffer from a burst pipe this winter by followingthese simple tips.


A BursT water pipe cancause thousands of poundsworth of damage, not only to your homebut to your neighbours’ flats too as gallonsofwater can be released,especially if it happenswhile you areaway. To keep your risk to a minimumthere are a number of easy precautions you can take. First, always


Don’tbe


afraid to ask aboutflood protection


protection should not be underestimated. Forthose rentingflats, thebest advice is


to checkthe detailsofleases with particular regard to insurancecover andensurethe correctlevel of personal contents insurance is in place. Tenantsshouldn’t be afraid to ask landlordswhatflood protectionmeasures they have in place,whether the property has flooded in thepastand, in high risk areas, to request that afloodemergencyplanbedrawn up fortheir building.Bysigning up to the Environment Agency’s free flood warning serviceanyonelivinginaflat canreceive advance warningofpotential flooding. Those in ground floor propertiesmaywishtokeep emergency provisions such as sandbags on hand. As we have seen with the case of the


SpencerCourt flats in Newcastle,which arenow beingdemolishedfollowing floodingduring2012, investinginnew buildpropertiesisnoguarantee of flood protection. If youare consideringbuying aflat either as alandlord or homeowner, a flood risk screeningreportshouldbeinsisted on before committingtoany purchase. The message is simple:when it comes to flooding, forewarned is forearmed.●


BenFurlongis an EnvironmentalConsultantatrisk managementconsultancy,ArgyllEnvironmental.The companyoffer spansfromdesktop contaminatedland and flood risk reports to bespoke consultancy services. Tel 0845 458 5250 Email info@argyllenviro.com Websitewww.argyllenvironmental.com/flood


Flat Living Issue 13, Winter 55


have your boiler andcentral heatingsystem serviced on a regular basis. This notonly reduces thechanceofa leak but ensures your systemisworking efficiently. If theweather turns cold and your heating stopsworking, you could have a frozen pipe. Turn offyourboilerand call a plumber. Insulate yourwater


pipesand hotwater tank.Also, if youhavea condensing boiler, talk to your plumber about


lagging your condensate pipe.Don’t ignore dripping taps or overflows–they could indicate a problem with yourwater system. Externalwaterpipes in communal groundsshould be turned off in freezing conditions and hoses disconnected. If theweather is severely cold, don’t turn offyour


electric heater for emergencyuse


heating at night, leave the systemon a lowsetting. This also applies if you aregoingaway.Ask a neighbouroryourproperty manager to check your flat on aregular basisfor any problems. If your flat is likely to be leftempty for a long time, drain downthe water systemand turn the water off.


itmaybeworth investinginan


Make sure you and the


othermembers of your family knowhowandwhere to turn offthewatersupply to your flat and check that your stop valveiseasy to turn on and off in an emergency. If you discover a frozen


pipe, turn off thewater and slowlythawthe pipe usinga gentle heat source such as a hairdryer or hot water bottle.Don’t try to thawthe pipe with a blow torchorother source of rapid, direct heat.Have abucket ready in case the pipe bursts. If you are


unlucky enough to have a burstpipethiswinter, turn off thewater at the stop cock and turn on the cold taps to drain the system andturnoff your central heating. Itmaybeworth investing in an electric heater foremergency use. At least you will be able to keepwarmuntil the plumber arrives.


Aburst pipe canbe extremely costly


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