Escape of water

Escape of water is one of the most common causes of damage to a property – and one of the most expensive to repair. Water can escape for many reasons, from pipes bursting in cold temperatures to faulty appliances leaking after breaking down.

Key points:

• Escape of water can cause major damage to your property

• Simple precautions, like insulating your water pipes and keeping the heating on low in winter, can limit the risk of burst pipes 

• If you have an escape of water, knowing where your stop cock is can prevent significant damage 

• Having your boiler serviced annually can prevent loss of heating during cold weather, and the complications this brings

What you need to know

When you take into account the value of the average household and its contents, such as wooden floors, fitted kitchens, furniture, carpets and TVs, the damage even a single burst pipe can cause can be significantly costly.

As long as you take the right precautions, you can limit the risk of water damage, or even prevent an escape of water. This brief guide will help you understand the main causes, and there are tips that may help reduce the possibility of it happening in your own home, so that you can avoid the hassle of making a claim.

How escape of water is caused

Frozen pipes left unlagged (not insulated) in winter can burst when the water inside them starts to thaw, damaging the surrounding walls, floors and furniture. This is particularly common in unoccupied properties when the pipes are not regularly warmed through heating.

Poor construction also increases the risk of escape of water. Plumbing methods, when applied incorrectly, can lead to faulty installation or joint failure. And, of course, simple human error – leaving valves open prior to changing the water supply system, for example – can cause a leak.

What's covered if I have an escape of water?

The Bronze, Silver and Gold policies from John Lewis Money Home Insurance all cover damage caused by water escaping from (or freezing in) your*:

• Water pipes

• Washing machines

• Dishwashers

• Fridges or freezers

• Fixed water systems and tanks

• Fixed central heating systems

*Exclusions apply. 

This will also include cover for the accidental loss of metered water in your home, subject to policy limits.

We’ll also cover the cost of removing and replacing any part of your building (up to £5,000 for Bronze and Silver policies and unlimited for Gold), if this is necessary to repair heating or water systems that have caused the escape of water.

What happens in the event of a claim?

We can arrange for specialist contractors to repair the damage, or you can organise this yourself (subject to our agreement). Drying and restoring the building and contents as soon as possible will save you from unnecessary hassle, like getting walls replastered, or sofas treated for mould spores.

As part of your Bronze, Silver or Gold policy, you’ll be able to stay in overnight accommodation, at a reasonable cost, if your home is made uninhabitable due to an approved claim for water damage.

If you'd like to make a claim or you have any questions about escape of water damage, please visit our help hub.

Our home insurance 

You can get a quote for home insurance with John Lewis Money to cover your home and your belongings.

Not only are our Gold, Silver and Specialist home insurance policies five-star rated by Defaqto, but our different levels of cover can be tailored to suit your property.

Plus, our Specialist Home Insurance is specifically designed for high-value contents & homes, or unique homes.