While we all know accidents can happen and the unexpected can occur, what can homeowners do to help prevent the same problems occurring at their home?
To help you get an idea of some of the most common issues homeowners face across the UK, we’ve put together the top three claims Admiral Home Insurance receive as well as tips on how you can prevent them.
Boilers are common appliances that are often involved in household claims. Leaking and dripping tend to be common issues, while loss of pressure and problems with efficient heating also top the list.
In the winter time, frozen pipes are an issue to be aware of – when temperatures often dip below freezing, this can cause a blockage in your boiler.
Preventing frozen pipes is easy and cheap; we teamed up with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to provide useful advice on getting your home winter-ready including how to prevent frozen pipes, insulating your home and preparing your garden for storms.
There are all kinds of boilers out there and the size, construction and energy efficiency of a boiler will affect their performance and energy output. Making sure you choose the right boiler for your home is an important step in avoiding a boiler emergency and it could save you money.
Here are some simple ways you can look after your boiler to ensure it stays in top condition:
If you have a mortgage, you more than likely had to take out buildings insurance as part of the agreement; and the next two most common claims are covered by Admiral Buildings Insurance.
One of the most common household claims that Admiral sees involves 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 some of the best prevention methods may not always work. Homeowners who suffer escape of water claim for a range of damage as a result – everything from ruined furniture to a flooded living room. The most important thing is not to panic; if you suspect your home is experiencing escape of water and it’s safe to do so, follow these steps:
Signs of a leak in the home
Not all escape of water claims are severe and for smaller cases your home might just require the cleaning and drying out process. While this could still take several weeks, you can speed up the drying process by opening the doors and windows to help air circulate.
For leaks you think require more attention, you should contact a professional who can strip out any 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.
Although some situations are impossible to prevent, there are simple things you can do to help keep your home leak-free:
Another common claim our household team deals with involves house fires. Not only can fires cause severe structural damage to your home, they can also be extremely dangerous for you and your family or housemates. Like many home claims, 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
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.
Even though home insurance isn’t required by law, your home keeps almost everything you value the most so keeping it protected is important. Getting the right insurance can be confusing, so it’s important to know exactly what is covered by your policy so you don’t run the risk of making a claim on something you’re not insured for.
To avoid the risk of having invalid home insurance, keep the following in mind:
If you’re unsure what type of cover you need, take a look at our guide to buying home insurance to make sure you get the best deal and protection.
Did you know over 278,000 homes sit empty across the UK? Find out more about vacant properties in the UK with our guide.