Flexi hoses can be found in your home or business, usually under bathroom basins or kitchen sinks. They are used regularly by plumbers as a cheaper and easier installation option to copper pipes.
BEWARE – flexi hoses have a limited life span (around 5 years). They should be regularly checked by a plumber for signs of wear and where necessary, should be replaced by new hoses. Worn hoses can pop anytime and the subsequent damage to the home or business can be substantial.
Recently our insurance claims teams in our Werribee and Geelong offices have handled several claims for burst flexi hoses. In most cases the homeowners were not home at the time and were only alerted by their neighbours when water could be seen pouring out of the house.
As you can imagine, by this time, the house has been inundated and if the home is double story, the damage can be significant.
Apart from the initial clean-up of water, the damage can extend to flooring , skirtings, plaster walls, cabinetry or electrical items. Families have had to move out of the property for lengthy periods of time whilst driers are installed, and repairs are then undertaken. It is not unusual for this to take 6-12 months depending on the extent of the damage.
Whilst insurance may cover such events, it is far better to prevent an occurrence.
Here are a few tips –
- Ensure flexi hoses are installed by a professional plumber.
- Regularly have the hoses checked for signs of wear, rust and corrosion.
- Have a plumber check the water pressure at the meter to make sure it’s not too high
- Replace the hoses every 5 years.
- Turn the water off at the mains when leaving the home for a period of time.
Burst Flexi hose from a recent claim
