How to protect against burst water pipes GOING LEGAL
Water and fire are the biggest risks facing bridal shops, taking weeks, months, and even years to put right. Catherine Brides of bridal insurance specialists, Hine Chartered Insurance Brokers, tells us what you can do to protect your business against burst pipes this winter
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your policy may cover burst pipes, if you fail to follow basic guidance and maintenance procedures, your policy may well be invalidated. It is worth noting that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or zero degrees Celsius). It is generally advisable, therefore, to keep buildings at 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12 to 13 Maintain a constant temperature degrees Celsius) to avoid pipes While it can be tempting to turn your freezing and potentially bursting as heating off outside of opening hours to save on money and energy, keeping a result. However, your insurance provider may require that the it on, and at a constant temperature, temperature is kept at a different level will make pipes less likely to burst. as a bare minimum. It is always wise to Should you need to leave your check your specific policy to ensure building empty for an extended you are fully covered. period of time, I’d always advise checking your insurance policy. If it Identify your water stopcock states that the heating needs to be As a business owner, you should kept above a certain temperature, Check your insulation make the time to ensure you and all Ensure that all of your pipes and water you must take this into account as your staff know the location of your otherwise your provider may not pay tanks are insulated. Exposure to the water stopcock – most buildings have elements make them vulnerable, but out in the event of a claim. While uring the colder months, the risk of burst pipes significantly increases due to cold temperatures. Should a pipe burst, this can have a devastating effect on your business – not only can it damage your building, electronics and stock, but it can also halt your ability to fulfill appointments with your customers. Having spoken to many businesses who have been affected by water damage during the winter months, I have seen first-hand the stress and financial pressure this can cause. Fortunately, however, there are ways to limit the damage if an incident does occur.
insulation gives protection against fluctuating temperatures, and at the same time reduces the amount of heat lost, potentially saving your business money. Insulation is not expensive, so it’s certainly worth considering.
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