How to prevent common home insurance claims

Keeping your home in order is a difficult undertaking. With family members coming and going, appliances to maintain and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We’ve crunched the numbers to discover the three most common home insurance claims. Read on to find out how to prevent them and what to do if they happen to you.

Boiler emergencies

Boilers are commonly involved in household claims. Leaking and dripping are frequent issues, while loss of pressure and problems with efficient heating also top the list. 

How to keep your boiler in top condition

• bleed your radiators – this releases any air and allows your boiler to work more efficiently and smoothly
• service your boiler regularly – last year, Admiral customers paid an average of £203.87 in repair costs for their boilers
• re-pressurize your boiler – check your instruction manual or contact a trained professional if you’re unsure how to do it
• prevent frozen pipes – with a few small DIYs and checks throughout the year, you can avoid a blockage in your boiler

Escape of water

Whether it’s a result of burst pipes or a leaky washing machine, sometimes escape of water damage is unavoidable and even prevention methods may not always work. 

Homeowners claim for a range of escape of water damage – everything from ruined furniture to a flooded living room.

For example, trace and access cover deals with sourcing the leak and fixing it.

Signs of a leak in the home

• decrease in water pressure
• hearing running water in places you don’t expect it
• mould and damp patches
• increased water bill
• seeing running water or wet patches around the house

Not all escape of water claims are severe. Smaller cases may only require the cleaning and drying out process which you can speed up by opening the doors and windows to help air circulate.

If you suspect a leak and, it’s safe to do so, follow these steps:

• turn off the primary water supply to your home to stop the leak
• switch off the power and avoid electrical appliances – contact an electrician first if you need to stand in water to turn off the main electricity
• take photos of the damage
• if you have Home Emergency Cover on your policy, call our 24-hour Home Emergency Helpline on 0800 6523 117 and we can help you find a suitable service provider

For leaks that need more attention, contact a professional to strip out damaged furniture and fixtures and start the repairs.

Getting your home back to normal after escape of water can take time so you may need to seek alternative accommodation during the repair process, depending on how severe the damage is.

Here are a few ways you can help prevent escape of water:

• locate your home’s stopcock is and check how to switch it on and off
• invest in a pipe and stud finder to locate any pipes behind walls or floorboards while doing DIY projects
• keep your gutters and downspouts clean and clear
• wrap or ‘lag’ your pipes to help avoid frozen pipes

House fires

House fires can be impossible to predict but many are caused by misusing appliances, cooking or electrical problems such as poor wiring.

How to reduce the risk of a house fire:

• keep matches or lighters out of the reach of children
• if you smoke cigarettes, extinguish them in an ashtray away from flammable items
• never leave candles unattended and light them on a flat surface away from the window and flammable items
• regularly clean your washing machine and tumble dryer filters to prevent build up
• don’t leave electrical devices on including electric blankets while you’re out of the house
• keep your oven clean and be careful of wearing loose clothing if you’re cooking on a gas stove

Make sure your smoke alarms are up-to-date and working; it’s a simple, quick test to make sure the batteries are working. You should aim to change them at least once a year. 

Home insurance

While these incidents are uncommon, they can be very costly. Having home insurance can cover the costs should the worst happen.

Knowing which cover is right for your home can be confusing, so we’ve created this guide to buying home insurance to make things clearer. If you’re still unsure, speak to your insurer.