We have put together a short list of some tips that can be used to help you prevent and avoid escape of water incidents taking place.

Sinks And Showers

  1. Check your Taps and Shower heads regularly – Catching a leaky tap/shower head early could save you a lot of time and money. For example, you may be able to fix a dripping tap by replacing the rubber washer for a small amount of money if you were to notice it quickly. However, if you had not checked the tap regularly and the leak is left to get worse, it could cause damage to the basin and surrounding area which may result in you needing to replace the entire unit and subsequently costing you vastly more money.
  2. Limescale Build up – Keep an eye on the water flow from the tap. This is usually relatively easy to fix by using one of the following methods: (1) Cleaning with abrasive scourers (2) Using limescale removal acids from your local supermarket (3) Soak cotton wool in vinegar or lemon juice and attach it to the taps for an hour or so.
  3. Check for Hidden Leaks – These are much harder to notice, however things you can keep an eye on are; damp patches, musty smells and also any drastic or unexpected changes to your water bill.

Stop Cocks

  1. Check your home and find where your stop cock is located.
  2. Test the stop cock works and shuts off all of the water supply to the home.

Check The Sealant

  1. Check the silicone sealant around your baths, showers, and shower trays. If there are any gaps in the sealant, the water will be able to get through and can cause severe damage to the floor/wall behind.
  2. If you do find any small breaks in the sealant, you should be able to fix these relatively easily by filling the gap with new silicone sealant.
  3. If you notice several small breaks or one larger break, it would be best to remove the old sealant and replace it completely.

Check Drains

  1. It is worthwhile checking all of the plugs in any sinks, baths or shower trays to ensure that there are no blockages. All three of these are at risk of being blocked up by hair, soap or other debris.
  2. You should try to clean the filters in these plug holes regularly and also replace them as soon as any signs of damage appear.

Check Water Pressure

  1. Another way of identifying that you may have a leak at your home is by checking the water pressure regularly. If the pressure is lower than usual it may indicate that there has been an escape of water somewhere in the system.
  2. When checking the water pressure, if the pressure is too high it could indicate that your system is under excess pressure and needs urgent investigation.
  3. If the pressure is too high, it would be worthwhile investing in a new pressure regulator or upgrading the current one which will help to bring the pressure down to a more acceptable level.

 

For any insurance questions please contact Bullerwell & Co Ltd today.