The cost, interruption and inconvenience to your nursery caused by a burst pipe claim can be considerable with claims often running into many thousands of pounds. Just a small fracture can release hundreds of gallons of water into your property; damaging flooring, walls, ceilings and contents.
The damage would then need repairing and affected contents and equipment replacing to ensure security and safety is restored to your nursery causing further disruption to the running of your business.

Our tips below are preventative measures to help reduce the chance of a pipe bursting in the first place. The first tip, however, is vitally important to potentially reduce the impact a cracked pipe claim would have on your nursery.

General tips:

• Make sure you know the location of your stopcock. In case the worse happens you can stop the flow of water almost immediately.
• Maintain your boiler by keeping it regularly serviced.
• Ensure you have the correct insulation on your water pipes and cold water tank, those in the attic or other vulnerable spaces should be lagged or similarly protected.
• Modern methods of insulation can be so effective in keeping heat within your property that attics can become very cold, this could cause a pipe to freeze. We therefore recommend you keep your loft hatch open if you have pipes in the attic to keep this area warm.
• Keep doors between heated and unheated rooms open to allow warm air to circulate. Not always possible in a nursery for obvious security reasons.
• Keep cupboard doors open below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. Again, only if children will not be entering this area of the nursery.
• Seal any holes or gaps that may be letting cold air into your property.
• Keep valleys and gulleys on your roof free from debris.
• Make sure any external taps are turned off and disconnect any hoses.
• If you discover a frozen pipe don’t wait for it to burst. Turn off your water supply and slowly thaw the affected pipe. Do this by introducing gentle heat to the area e.g. hair dryer, hot water bottle. DO NOT attempt to thaw the pipe with a blow torch or other open flame such as a cigarette lighter or matches.

What if you are going away or the property will be unoccupied?

• Keep your property heated to reduce the chance of a pipe freezing.
• Ask somebody to check on your property daily. This may not prevent a loss but early identification of an escape can help reduce the ultimate cost.
• Ensure you have complied with any unoccupancy conditions or warranties listed in your policy

Should you need to report a claim or to receive further advice please contact the Pound Gates claims team on: - Tel: 01473 346050 or Email: chris.claydon@poundgates.com