Frozen pipe warning after £560,000 damage claim at four-bed house

Insurer Allianz paid out over £20m in claims related to damage from burst pipes between January 2023 and September 2025.

This is according to new figures, released today (5 January 2025) by Allianz, which also revealed the firm’s single largest claim – a £566,000 repair bill paid after the owner of a four-bedroom property suffered from burst pipes while aboard.

Burst pipes occur when the internal pipe temperature drops below zero degrees centigrade, causing the water inside to freeze and expand. Once warmer, the resulting fractures and breaks release water into the property, causing structural, electrical and contents damage.

Allianz recommended that homeowners leave their heating on low to reduce freeze risk, as well as take proactive measures such as draining water tanks and turning the water off at the stop cock if away for longer periods of time.

In the event of discovering a frozen pipe that is yet to burst, homeowners should remove carpets, furniture and electricals from the immediate vicinity and defrost the pipe with a hot water bottle while opening the nearest tap to allow effective run off.

Freezing and bursting

Graham Wright, managing director of home insurance at Allianz UK, explained: “Every time we have a spell of freezing weather, we support customers making claims for water pipes freezing and bursting.

“Burst pipes can cause a large amount of damage so it’s a good idea to keep your heating on a constant low heat when you’re out and for homeowners to insulate their loft and use good quality lagging, especially around pipes and water tanks so they don’t freeze.

“Opening a loft hatch occasionally will allow warm air to circulate around pipes in the loft. By following some of these simple steps, policyholders can potentially save a significant amount of disruption this winter.”