We know keeping your home safe and warm this winter is important to you. This guide covers everything from preparing your home for extreme weather in the winter months, to what your home insurance covers if you need to make a claim.
What to do in the immediate event of freezing weather
Freezing temperatures can affect your home in lots of ways. We've broken down some common cold weather issues and what to do if you're faced with them.
I have a leak, what do I do?
My boiler pipes have frozen, what do I do?
My pipes have burst, what do I do?
Am I covered for freezing weather damage?
We've outlined what you'll be covered for below if your home is affected by freezing temperatures and cold weather events.
This may differ depending on whether you have Buildings, Contents or Combined Home Insurance.
Combined Insurance
Combined Insurance covers both the structure of your home and the contents inside.
What we cover
Escape of water
We'll cover you for damage caused by leaks from fixed water tanks, water pipes, fixed central heating systems and domestic appliances.
Frost damage to plumbing
This includes damage to any part of the pipes and plumbing inside your home because of freezing.
Trace and access
This means the cost of removing and replacing any part of your building's structure to find where a water or oil leak is coming from. Read our trace and access guide.
Trace and access is covered on Gold and Platinum policies, not Admiral tier.
What we don't cover
Damage caused by faulty grout or sealant
We don't cover repair costs for any escape of water that's been caused by poor grout or sealant. This is because you're expected to keep your home in good condition through regular maintenance.
Damage in unoccupied homes
We don't cover costs for any leaks that happens when your home has been unoccupied for more than 60 days.
If you're going to be away for longer, you might be able to extend your cover up to 120 days. Contact us to discuss your options.
Frost damage to external pipes
Damage to plumbing outside or in outbuildings isn't covered.
Taps being left on
We don't cover any damage caused by water overflowing due to taps intentionally being left on. This may be covered if you have bought Accidental Damage cover.
Buildings Insurance
Buildings Insurance covers repair costs for your home including garages, outbuildings, and anything permanently fixed.
What we cover
Escape of water
We'll cover you for damage caused by leaks from fixed water tanks, water pipes, fixed central heating systems and domestic appliances.
Frost damage to plumbing
This includes damage to any part of the pipes and plumbing inside your home because of freezing.
Trace and access
This means the cost of removing and replacing any part of your building's structure to find where a water or oil leak is coming from. Read our trace and access guide.
Trace and access is covered on Gold and Platinum policies, not Admiral level.
What we don't cover
Damage caused by faulty grout or sealant
We don't cover repair costs for any escape of water that's been caused by poor grout or sealant. This is because you're expected to keep your home in good condition through regular maintenance.
Damage in unoccupied homes
We don't cover costs for any leaks that happens when your home has been unoccupied for more than 60 days.
If you're going to be away for longer, you might be able to extend your cover up to 120 days. Contact us to discuss your options.
Frost damage to external pipes
Damage to plumbing outside or in outbuildings isn't covered.
Contents Insurance
Contents Insurance protects the belongings inside your home.
What we cover
Escape of water
We'll cover you for damage caused by leaks from fixed water tanks, water pipes, fixed central heating systems and domestic appliances.
What we don't cover
Damage caused by faulty grout or sealant
We won't cover repair costs for any escape of water that's been caused by poor grout or sealant.
External pipes
Any damage caused by escape of water or leaks from external pipes that are above ground.
Damage in unoccupied homes
We don't cover costs for any leaks that happens when your home has been unoccupied for more than 60 days.
If you're going to be away for longer, you might be able to extend your cover up to 120 days. Contact us to discuss your options.
Taps being left on
We don't cover any damage caused by water overflowing due to taps intentionally being left on. This may be covered if you have bought Accidental Damage cover.
It's important to keep your home in a good state of repair all year round. Read our guide on home maintenance for some advice on how to do this.
Find out more about excessHow to claim on your home insurance
Follow these steps if you need to claim for any damage caused to your home by freezing weather conditions.
Read your policy documents
Find out your excess and what you're covered for
Collect your evidence
Get any photos and documents ready which show the damage
Make your claim
Head to MyAccount to register your claim
Policy documents
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How to prepare your home for winter
Whether there's an official freeze warning or not, it's important to be proactive and prepare your home for winter. Here are a few ways you can do this:
Unoccupied properties
We don't cover unoccupied properties. If you're going to be away for more than 60 days, please let us know so we can discuss your cover with you.
Leaving your home in winter
If you’re leaving your property unoccupied, it’s a good idea to:
- turn off the water supply at the mains and drain the system
- leave your boiler on a low temperature, or on frost protection setting if you have it
- make sure all accessible water pipes and tanks are lagged
- install a water cut off valve – this device automatically cuts off the supply of water if a leak or burst pipe is detected
All of these measures mean your home stays safe even if you’re not always there to keep an eye on it. Read our guide on protecting your empty home whilst you’re away.
Home insurance glossary
We want you to understand your policy inside out. Here are some key terms about home insurance and what they mean.
Escape of water
Escape of water means water leaking from the mains supply in your home.
The most common cause is burst pipes, usually in cold temperatures. Read our guide on escape of water.
Trace and access
Trace and access cover means finding the source of a water or oil leak and exposing it for repair. It covers the cost to remove and replace parts of building when attempting to find the source of a leak.
People often misunderstand the difference between trace and access and home emergency cover.
Here’s an example to explain the difference:
If your toilet starts leaking, call the home emergency helpline, who’ll arrange for a tradesperson to stop the leak temporarily. That tradesman won’t find out where it’s coming from or repair any damage caused by it.
You can use your policy documents to check whether you have trace and access cover and if yes, what your policy limits are.
Excess
Excess is the amount of money you pay to your insurance provider if you need to make a claim on your home insurance.
There is a compulsory excess and a voluntary excess.
Compulsory excess is the set amount of money you have to pay to make a claim.
Voluntary excess is an amount chosen by you which you pay on top of your compulsory excess.
For example, if you have a compulsory excess of £250 and you set your voluntary excess at £150, you'll pay £400 in total if you need to make a claim.
The higher your voluntary excess is, the lower your monthly payments will be. When choosing your voluntary excess, make sure it's a price you can afford if you need to make a claim.
Wear and tear
When we say wear and tear, we mean any damage that happens gradually over time. This includes:
- wet and dry rot
- damage due to extended exposure to sunlight
- settlement
- mildew
- rust
- corrosion
For instance, you wouldn't be covered for your window frames gradually rotting away, or for slipped or cracked roof tiles.
Insurers expect you to try and keep your home in a good state of repair all year round.
Need more?
Home Emergency cover
Arranges for a tradesperson to make your home safe and secure
More about emergency cover