Weather leads to burst pipes, claims increase.

The number of burst pipes reported has increased. A report has indicated that the average home insurance claim for these incidents is £2,500 to fix the problem, while one claim has amounted to £156,000.

Primecover offer tips to home-owners in order to help them avoid such problems.

Be aware of stopcocks, ball and gas valves, this will help you locate difficulties, as will leaving the heating on for a small time every day while away on holiday – to avoid frozen pipes.

Furthermore, keeping drain gratings, gutters and down pipes clear of leaves and debris can help, as can insulating taps, lagging pipes and standing pipes.

To give yourself piece of mind, make sure you have adequate home insurance that will cover you if icy conditions do take their toll. Maintaining the outside of your property as the recent windy weather in the UK has lead to a large number of buildings claims.