Swinton home insurance has issued ominous warnings to homeowners following the news that the month of March will reveal a distinct un - spring like weather.

The company have urged all those concerned to ensure that necessary precautions are made to prevent an unforeseen mishap and an unfortunate claim on the home insurance policy.

They have released a list of the do's and don’ts over the next month, as the temperatures threaten to plummet.

Frozen

Steve Chelton, head of Swinton's home insurance division, said: "With the freezing weather forecast, it is essential that homeowners plan ahead - especially to avoid frozen water pipes. Frozen pipes can cause misery and thousands of pounds worth of damage, but with a few simple steps they can easily be avoided. If you have been waiting to fix a leaky tap or insulate your piping, now's the time to do it."

In fact according to recent figures, many home insurance customers have to claim on their policies in increasing amounts due to burst water pipes.

Sainsbury’s Home Insurance has claimed that a total of £27.56 million will be the cost of the big freeze Britain is experiencing this winter, with many having to claim on their insurance due to malfunctioning water pipes.

Neil Laird, manager of Sainsbury’s Home Insurance commented, “There have certainly been more home insurance claims linked to water damage in recent weeks than we’d expect to see when the weather is milder."

“Temperatures have dropped to as low as -10C (14F) and with more cold weather predicted, we expect to see more claims linked to water damage,” he added

Preparation

Frozen water has meant many water pipes have burst in the home, a marked increase of 15 per cent than other years.
Homeowners are being warned to take precautions as the outlay for such mishaps can be life affirming.

"After last year's comparatively mild winter, it's no surprise that so many homeowners have been caught unprepared by the cold snap." commented Phil Loney, managing director at Lloyds TSB insurance.

"A little bit of preparation now could save you from having to deal with escaping water from burst pipes or a broken boiler. To give yourself peace of mind, make sure you have adequate insurance which will cover you if the icy conditions take their toll on your home." He concluded

Some of the tips provided have included insuring quality lagging is added to tanks and pipes, avoiding dripping water freezing in pipes, to not switch your heating off and to leave loft doors slightly open to allow warm air to circulate.