Protect Your Home Against Winter Cold Spots/ 58% of Winter Weather Damage Originates in the Loft

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 10/27/11 -- Last winter freeze damage accounted for the largest proportion of home and contents insurance claims for specialist home insurer Hiscox, ahead of fire, theft, accidental damage and water damage - demonstrating how essential it is to prepare homes for colder weather.

Every home is different making it important for homeowners to understand the risks particular to their property, and the implications they might have on their home insurance. Hiscox's analysis of its claims data(i) shows that the age of the property had minimal bearing on the extent of freeze damage - demonstrating that old or new, homeowners need to look at where they might be exposed. For example, of the 58% of freeze claims originating in loft spaces, the problems in older houses were mainly due to antiquated heating systems and poor lagging. In newer homes it was a result of over insulation keeping out the heat that led to frozen or burst pipes.

Austyn Tusler, home insurance expert at Hiscox, comments:

"Looking at how people suffered damage last winter highlights just how important it is to look under the covers of your property to take the right precautions against freezing conditions. Just as you wouldn't put a pot onto boil and leave it, checking for the early signs of frozen pipes when the cold weather hits, means you can take action and prevent significant damage."

"Last year's cold weather claims coincided with the holidays when people were away. We have seen severe home and contents insurance claims where people return after a holiday or to a second home to find a burst pipe has been undetected leading to increased damage. To prevent or minimise freeze damage when you are away, keep the heating on low and ask someone to check your property regularly. Catching leaks early prevents larger scale damage and saves homeowners time and money as well as the emotional stress of loss or damage to personal things."

The cold spots

--  26% of freeze claims were for damage to unoccupied properties


--  58% of freeze claims originated in loft spaces


--  16% of damage occurred on the outside of the home (for example, the
    sheer weight of snow on an outbuilding roof causing it to collapse and
    blocked or frozen guttering causing water to overflow into a property)

Be prepared and take action

With the potential for another big freeze this winter, homeowners should start to think ahead to minimise the risk of damage from storms, snowfall and freezing pipes in order to reduce their chances of having to claim on their home and second home insurance. The following are preventative steps to help protect pipes:

--  If you have your home surveyed, ask the surveyor to assess the adequacy
    of pipe lagging


--  Ensure your boiler goes through a 'MOT', particularly if you've
    inherited an old system with the house. This should be done annually


--  Check that water pipes in loft spaces are fully lagged


--  Know the location of the stopcock and how to turn it off should you
    experience frozen pipes


--  Insulate pipes, water tanks and cisterns, especially in unheated areas
    like lofts, outbuildings and under floor spaces


--  In extreme situations leave a tap to drip slowly as no flow leads to
    pipes freezing more quickly


--  If you turn on a tap and no water comes out - don't take chances - call
    a plumber immediately and turn off the water supply


--  Open your attic or hatch door slightly during extreme cold spells to let
    heat into the loft to help prevent pipes freezing


--  When a cold snap is forecast, consider changing your central heating
    thermostat from a timer to 24 hours until the cold snap ends

If leaving property unoccupied

--  Keep the heating switched on at a low temperature to prevent pipes from
    freezing or turn off the water supply and drain the taps completely to
    prevent a burst pipe


--  Have someone check your house regularly to minimise damage should an
    incident occur in your absence, including checking for frozen pipes by
    testing if the taps are running water


--  Consider draining the water system if the property will be unoccupied
    for a significant time to minimise the risk of having to claim on your
    home and contents insurance.

Notes to Editors

(i) Based on analysis of Hiscox home insurance claims of 606 customers from December 2010 - January 2011

About Hiscox

Hiscox, the international specialist insurer offering a wide portfolio of insurance including home contents insurance, second home insurance and home insurance, is headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HSX). There are three main underwriting parts of the Group - Hiscox London Market, Hiscox UK and Europe and Hiscox International. Hiscox London Market underwrites internationally traded business in the London Market - generally large or complex business which needs to be shared with other insurers or needs the international licences of Lloyd's. Hiscox UK and Hiscox Europe offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers, as well as high net worth individuals. Hiscox International includes operations in Bermuda, Guernsey and USA. Hiscox Insurance Company Limited, Hiscox Underwriting Limited, Hiscox Europe Underwriting Limited and Hiscox Syndicates Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

For further information, visit www.hiscox.com.

Contacts:
Hiscox
Johanna Boland
[phone]
[e-mail]
www.hiscox.co.uk

Saira Khan
[e-mail]
[phone]