Prevent And Insure Frost Damage To The Building

The risk of expensive frost damage to real estate should not be underestimated. Although the winters in this country have been rather mild i...

The risk of expensive frost damage to real estate should not be underestimated. Although the winters in this country have been rather mild in recent years, frozen water pipes and heating pipes are frequent winter damage.

It is not uncommon for this to result in water damage that has to be painstakingly renovated and entails high follow-up costs. If you want to prevent this, you have to take appropriate preventive measures in good time. Important precautions are summarized below.

Up to 150 million euros in costs due to frost damage

Despite the mild winter months, frost and cold are a serious threat to buildings. According to a report from the German Insurance Association, the winter conditions in Germany cause 30,000 to 40,000 damage to water pipes every year.

The associated costs are up to 150 million euros. A frightening and at the same time avoidable sum. Ultimately, frost damage can be prevented with the simplest of measures.
Water pipes outside heated rooms are particularly sensitive to freezing temperatures. If the water in the pipes solidifies to ice, it expands by around 10%. This creates increased pressure that the lines cannot withstand.

Frost damage to water pipes is particularly tricky because at first, it is neither visually recognizable nor does it cause any noise. "Frost damage is often only discovered when temperatures rise and the thawed water runs out of the burst pipes and water damage has occurred," explains a drying specialist from North Rhine-Westphalia in a practical tip on frost damage to real estate.

In order to prevent unnecessary consequential damage caused by uncontrolled escaping water, the experts, therefore, recommend turning off the water supply from external pipes and frost-proof fittings outside. If it is not possible to turn off the water outdoors, it is advisable to insulate the pipes. The same is useful for pipelines in the basement and in the attics.

Further tips and hints summarized:

• If rooms remain unused in winter, they should still be heated constantly - even when you are away on vacation. This protects against frozen water pipes and excessive heating costs. After all, it costs a lot more energy to bring a completely cold room to temperature.

• The frost protection position (ice crystal symbol) of the radiator valves is not sufficient for a moderate temperature in guest rooms, basements and the like. It only protects the radiators from frost damage, but not the pipe systems and lines away from the heating elements. Therefore never close the valves completely.

• There is also a risk of frost in passive houses, which are characterized by innovative insulation. With good insulation, it only takes longer for frost damage to occur.

• Uninsulated water pipes and taps in the garden that are left off over the winter must be completely drained. Otherwise, the remaining water could freeze and cause damage.

Irrigation systems integrated into the garden landscape should also be dismantled early on before the onset of winter and stored frost-proof. In the event of frost damage, manufacturer guarantees for such products generally do not apply.

Are frost damage insured?

Have been taken to protect vulnerable areas all-important precautions and there is still frost damage can be that of the homeowner's insurance or the home insurance report. When reporting the damage, individual and contractually regulated deadlines must be observed.

Homeowners insurance covers the cost of all elements that are firmly attached to the house. These include, for example, radiators and the damaged water pipes. Household contents insurance, on the other hand, covers movable equipment without a direct connection to the building, such as furniture or electrical appliances.

In addition, so-called damage mitigation costs are among the benefits of the two property insurance companies. This refers to the costs incurred through measures that serve to contain the existing damage, such as the professional de-icing of pipes.

Tip: Tap water damage is common, but not included in every insurance policy. If in doubt, ask the insurer and add to the contract or change the insurance company!

Which building damage is also conceivable in winter and which policies are important to protect it can be found at the Bausparkasse der Sparkassen. The service contribution addresses, among other things, the potential effects of severe storms and natural hazard insurance, which is essential in the event of damage caused by the forces of nature.