 Beating burst pipe problems
February 1st 2010
Burst and frozen pipes can
cause businesses severe
damage. Some tips from
Premierline Direct may help.
Prevention is always better
than cure. With a cold snap
forecast, keep the heating
system on when you close the
premises at the end of each
day. A lot of modern boilers
have frost protection
thermostats, those that don't
should be set to a minimal
level to prevent pipes from
freezing, especially at night.
All pipes liable to freezing
should be lagged. Check that
the condition of the insulation
is intact and of a suitable
thickness.
Familiarise yourself with the
location of the water valve. In
the event of a burst pipe or if
the property is going to be
left empty, you can then turn
off the water supply. It is
usually under a sink or where
the mains water pipe enters
the premises. It is also
advisable to turn off the
electricity supply, particularly
if the leak is near to electrical
appliances.
Your business insurance
policy may state that stock
kept in a basement/ground
floor has to be stored at a
specified height above floor
level – in most cases, at least
150mm. If a pipe did burst and
water came into the premises,
failure to comply with this
condition of the policy could
potentially affect a claim.
Notify the insurer if the
premises will be empty for
more than 30 days as a vacant
property will alter the terms of
the policy. The premises
should also be checked
regularly.
Draft a contingency plan to
help minimise disruption to
the business. Check the
business is adequately insured
and what cover you have. | 
