Ecclesiastical launches leak detector trial with brokers

Escape of water is one of the most common sources of domestic property damage in the UK. The industry pays out around £1.8m each day to help homeowners cope with the misery of burst pipes². Following the so called ‘Beast in the East’ last year, the industry paid homeowners £194m, the highest amount ever paid in a single quarter³. In just one day an amount equivalent to 48 bathtubs of water can escape from a burst pipe⁴.

Often leaks are hidden and water escapes slowly over a long period of time meaning that home owners only discover the issue when it’s already caused considerable damage. From drying out the property, agreeing the specification with the customer, completing the tender process and beginning repairs, the average lifecycle of a large water loss incident can be lengthy. Homeowners may also need to find alternative accommodation during repairs, causing a huge inconvenience to the customer.

In partnership with HomeServe Labs, Ecclesiastical is evaluating LeakBot¹ as part of its innovation programme which focuses on solving customer problems. LeakBot is a smart water leak detector that once clipped next to a stop tap detects leaks anywhere on the mains water system. The technology measures air and water temperatures in the home and instantly alerts the customer when a leak is detected. Members of the trial will then use HomeServe’s ‘Find and Fix' service to repair the leak.

Nicholas Hartley, Head of Business Improvement and Innovation at Ecclesiastical said: “As part of our innovation programme we’re trialling LeakBot devices with some of our brokers and their customers. We know escape of water incidents can be distressing for customers which is why we’re trialling innovative solutions to detect leaks large or small as early as possible.”

¹LeakBot was designed by HomeServe Labs, a subsidiary of HomeServe one of the UK’s leading home assistance providers https://www.leakbot.io/

²Beast from the East leads to the worst of the bursts, Association of British Insurers

³Compared to only £4million paid out in quarter 4 2017, Association of British Insurers

⁴How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Bursts, Schofields Insurance