Water knowledge "could save on insurance claims"

Posted : 07-12-2004

Advice has been provided for households with the aim of avoiding a potentially costly water leak.

According to the Association of British Insurance (ABI), the insurance industry paid out £310 million in claims last year for "escape of water", usually caused either by burst pipes or taps being left on.

The ABI has suggested that insurance claims could be reduced if more people were able to take action in the instance of a water leak.

Over one third of households (36 per cent) do not know where their stop clock is, and would thus not know how to turn off their water mains in the eventuality of a leak. While 79 per cent of people who know where their stop cock is, fail to regularly check that it is working.

"With the first taste of winter now with us, a couple of hours checking your home - and making sure your stop-cock is working properly - will be time well spent, especially if you are going away over the festive season," said Neale Phillips, director of AA Insurance.
© DeHavilland Information Services plc

The views expressed within the article are entirely those of Adfero Ltd and are not those of BDML Connect Ltd