Preventing water damage in your home

• Being aware of early signs of a leak. Try to detect an early sign such as a drop in water pressure, a damp patch on a wall or ceiling or small puddles in cupboards or near appliances in order avoid the issue becoming worse. Once you spot a sign, try and find out why and where it could be coming from immediately.
• Annoying dripping noise? Don’t ignore it; it could be another sign of a leak hidden under the baths or behind walls.
• Watch out for signs of decay which can lead to leaks. Keep up regular maintenance of grouting and seals around baths, showers and taps. Watch out for mould and remove all traces as this can lead to decay and potential leaks.
• Don’t forget to have your heating system checked regularly. It’s really important to have your boiler and heating system serviced regularly by a recognised professional as it could save you a lot of trouble in the future and could prevent potential leaks.
• You don’t always need a plumber. Regular maintenance of plug holes can help avoid severe blockages down the line. Check out some effective products on the market which are cheap and straight forward to use. Of course, if the issue becomes severe then make sure to use a reputable tradesperson to complete plumbing work.
• Cold temperatures forecast soon? If you’re aware that the temperature is due to drop, set your central heating no lower than 10 degrees day and night. This can avoid your pipes from freezing and potentially bursting. Insulation can also avoid this problem in parts of the house which is colder than others.
• Do you have an auto stopcock? This effective device can recognise a leak and shut off the water supply to avoid potential damage.
• Do you know how to turn your stopcock off? Firstly, find out where your stopcock is located and how to use it. You can always test it in advance by running a nearby tap and ensuring it is completely stopped when the water mains is switched off.
• Holiday planned? If you’re leaving your property unattended for an extended period, say more than 30 days, advise your insurer so they can provide you with guidance such as turning off your water supply to put your mind at rest while you’re away.
• Make sure you know what you’re covered for should you need to make a claim. Read your policy documents carefully and save your insurer’s details as a contact in your phone along with your policy number.

As well as the above top tips, the best piece of advice we can give you is to keep up regular maintenance of your property to avoid wear and tear.