It can. If a frozen pipe splits and then leaks, home insurance may cover the resulting water damage. Some policies set conditions about heating or draining the water system when a home is empty in winter.

Why do frozen pipes split?

• Water expands as it freezes.
• The pipe may crack while it is frozen, but the leak often appears later when the ice thaws.

Keeping pipes from freezing

• Insulate pipes in cold areas.
• Disconnect garden hoses before very cold weather.
• Keep a reasonable background temperature in the house.
• Seal obvious draughts around vulnerable plumbing.

What should you do when a pipe freezes?

• Do not use a naked flame to thaw it.
• Warm the area slowly.
• Be ready to turn off the mains water in case the pipe has split.

Check the winter and unoccupancy rules

Check the unoccupancy and winter-heating conditions before leaving the house for a long period. A claim can be affected if the policy required heating to be kept on or the system to be drained.