Arctic temperatures could leave householders out in the cold - Direct Line warning britain is at risk of boiler breakdown

• Only 65 per cent of women know where their stopcock is compared to 80 per cent of men
• Householders admit risking their safety as 40 per cent of those who experienced a broken down boiler, resorted to boiling a kettle to wash themselves
• One in ten blame a boiler breakdown as having a negative impact on their or a member of their family’s health
   

Millions of households are at risk of their boiler heating systems failing this week due to external drain-away pipes freezing, according to Direct Line. The number of households that have this type of boiler has increased significantly in the last six years as in April 2007, it became a legal requirement that all gas boilers must be condensing in England and Wales.

The freezing of pipes is stopping the waste liquid (condensate) from draining away, leading to the ‘backing up’ of the liquid, which will cause the boiler to fail and cut out.

Martin Egan, national property claims manager at Direct Line home insurance, comments: “With the arctic weather hitting the UK, we are predicting an increase in boiler failures due to condensing drain away pipes freezing. The problem can be resolved by effective insulation of the pipe, which homeowners can do themselves and save having to call an engineer out. If the plastic pipe from the boiler is in an outside area and is not insulated, it is likely to be frozen and, if isn’t already, it is likely to freeze as the cold weather persists.”

Last winter, 93 per cent of major claims in the home occurred when no one was in the house according to a claims audit* by Direct Line home insurance. The audit found that the source of nearly all these claims were leaks from water mains and pipes in the loft.

To support the claims audit, further research commissioned** by Direct Line found that only 65 per cent of women know where their stopcock is compared with 80 per cent of men. This could be disastrous for women if they are home alone and unable to stop water gushing through their house.

Egan continues: “This week, leave the heating on at approximately 15 degrees on the thermostat. Whether you are at home or away, open loft hatches to allow them to heat up. Often they are so well insulated to keep cold out of the house that they do not allow heat in and freezing occurs. Find out now where your stopcock is and how to turn off the water supply. You really don’t want to be looking for it when water is coming through the ceiling.”

Direct Line has the following tips to help householders protect their property:

• Prepare boiler pipes for icy weather by insulating them with lagging. Do not forget the corners. You can do those bits by cutting a 45-degree angle in the lagging, and remember to cover all of the joints with duct tape. Make sure you have lagged any pipes you might have outside.
• Check to make sure your loft insulation is thick enough. It should be around 10 inches deep.
• Try and insulate your home – fit draught proofing to any gaps in windows or doors and make sure wall cavities are well insulated.
• Find your main stopcock and make sure that you can turn it on and off.
• If you have any taps that have a tendency to drip, now is the time to fix them.
• Check to make sure your boiler has been serviced by a Gas Safe professional.
• If you’re away from home for a few days during the cold weather, keep your heating on at a low level – at about 15 degrees - throughout. If you are away for a longer period of time it might be wise and more cost-effective to shut down the system completely, turn off all the mains stopcocks and drain down pipes, toilets and radiators.
• If your pipes do freeze, turn the water off, drain the system and leave the taps open.
   

Direct Line tips on how to thaw and protect condensing drain away pipes:

• The condensate pipe is a plastic pipe (black, white or grey), coming from the bottom of the boiler. If this pipe is less than 32mm in diameter and runs outside of the property or through a non-heated area then it should be fully insulated with waterproof lagging.
• Only attempt to thaw a condensate pipe that is at ground level and which is easily accessible to you. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to thaw a condense pipe which is at height, without the assistance of a professionally trained engineer.
• A hot water bottle or heat wrap (like the ones that can be used to ease muscle discomfort) would be a suitable and safe way of thawing the condensate pipe. Hold the hot water bottle or warmed heat wrap around the pipe to thaw it.
• Once thawed, insulate the pipe with waterproof lagging. If it is not at ground level contact the installer in order to implement a permanent solution to prevent the condense freezing.
  
  

ENDS

Notes to editors

*Claims audit reviewing claims data from the February 2012 freeze event

**Direct Line home Insurance commissioned Opinium Research to interview a random sample of 2,013 adults aged 18+ via online omnibus 19th to 22nd October 2012. Surveys were conducted across the country

For further information please contact:

Claire Foster

PR Manager

Direct Line

claire.foster@directlinegroup.co.uk 

020 8285 8682

07900 217 264

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

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