What to do about burst pipes

Burst water pipes can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to your home, and could even leave you with nowhere to live. Learn what you can do if it happens to you. 

Key points:

• Stop the flow of water from the mains and switch off your electricity, before significant damage occurs

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible to explain the situation

• Photograph the damage and keep any receipts for emergency repairs 

• Reduce future risks by insulating pipes and keeping your heating on low while away
  

1. Shut off the water

If you have a burst pipe, the first thing you need to do is turn off the water at the mains by shutting off the main stopcock. This will stop the flow of water into the house and prevent any more coming into the pipes.

If the flow of water continues, drain the cold water in the system by flushing the toilet several times and running all the cold taps until the flow dries up.

If any electrical sockets are affected, turn off the main electrical supply immediately.

2. Contact your insurer

If your home is damaged by water or has become unsafe or your contents are at risk of further damage, contact us as soon as possible. If your home is made uninhabitable, our buildings policy pays reasonable costs for alternative accommodation up to £50,000 for Bronze, £100,000 for Silver, and Unlimited for Gold. Our contents policy also provides cover for alternative accommodation up to £10,000 for Bronze, £15,000 for Silver and Unlimited for Gold.

John Lewis Money Home Insurance offers an optional add-on providing round-the-clock support for domestic emergencies like burst pipes. If you have our Home emergency cover included in your policy, the 24-hour helpline could find an authorised tradesperson to help you, with labour and parts included (up to a maximum of £1,000). For Specialist Home Insurance customers, this is included as standard.

3. Contact a plumbing professional

Once you’ve stopped the flow of water, contact a reputable professional plumber (or get one through your insurer) to assess the damage and make immediate repairs. Please note, that in most cases the repair to the actual pipe itself will not be covered by insurance, but the costs associated with locating the leak as well as the resultant water damage usually are.

The plumber should be able to advise you if the water has reached power sockets. If water has reached power sockets, call out a certified electrician. Don’t use any appliances which have come into contact with the water.

If you want to claim on your home insurance for the costs of locating the leak, or the resulting water damage, be sure to contact us before you arrange for a plumber and/or an electrician to visit. If your insurance policy includes our Home Emergency cover add on, you can be put in contact with a reputable plumber.

4. Document the damage

Check exactly what you need to do to make a claim. This could include photographing damage and keeping receipts for replacement items.

You’ll either be given the go-ahead to start making repairs, for which you should keep receipts, or a loss adjuster will come and examine the damage in person.

The loss adjuster will then inform us of the extent of the damage and support you with progressing the claim, so we can get on with settling your claim.

5. Putting things right

Getting your home back to normal after damage from a burst pipe can take time. This can include:

• Cleaning and drying out - some cleaning is likely to be needed and the affected areas could take between 4-8 weeks to dry out or maybe more in difficult cases. To speed up the drying process, give walls, floors and furniture enough space for air to circulate.

• Stripping out - furniture and fixtures which have been damaged will need to be stripped out and damaged plaster removed

• Repairs - it may be some time before your house has dried out enough to start cosmetic repairs. Walls need to dry fully before they can be replastered and redecorated. Professional drying and restoration specialists may be required to help restore your home. Contact your insurer for advice as they will have recommended suppliers available to assist you.

• Don't forget - you should avoid throwing damaged items away immediately, as they may be used to help validate the insurance claim

Preventative measures

Water freezing and expanding in the pipes is by far the most common cause of burst pipes.

If you’re going away in the winter months and the temperature’s likely to drop, keep your home’s central heating set at 15 degrees (about 59F).

Consider completely draining your system if you’re going to be away for a long time over the winter (Unoccupancy conditions apply to your cover for extended unoccupancy periods). 

Lagging (insulating) your loft, cold water storage tank and water pipes can also reduce the risk of freezing.

Leaving your loft hatch open and allowing warmer air to reach the loft can be enough to prevent the temperature from getting critically low.

How can I get a home insurance quote with John Lewis Money?

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, brought to you by Covea Insurance, is specifically designed for high-value contents & homes, or unique homes.

This article is for promotional or information purposes only. You must not rely on it as advice.