Water pipes protection: Wrap it or regret it!

Burst pipes are the most common cause of home insurance claims in the UK [1] and cost an average of £3,500 in damage to property and contents.  The expense is not the worst of it, months of disruption follows as the property is dried out and repaired.

Frost is the greatest threat to water services throughout the winter.  UK Water Regulations require any fitting or apparatus to be correctly insulated to prevent frost, unless in a location that is heated for more than 12 hours a day [2]. It seems obvious when you are scraping the ice from the car on a frosty morning. However, the insurance claims show that many homeowners, landlords and occupiers seem to be unaware of this requirement.

Groundbreaker products are designed to offer frost protection for 3 days or more with temperatures as low as -15°C, temperatures we rarely reach in the UK - even with today’s erratic climate!  Carefully fabricated to provide long lasting and effective thermal protection to water pipes and fittings in external situations, our products exceed British Standard 5422 and all relevant Water Regulations.

Recognised by the HBF (Home Builders Federation) as the Utility Company of the Year in 2018 and a contributor to the recently launched BPEC (British Plumbing Employers Council) training course [3], our products are recognised as meeting the highest standards in both product specification and leak free installation design.

Our range includes, INSUduct which provides a cost-effective solution to the replacement of leaking and lead pipes without the trauma and disruption of having to dig up floors.  Typically reducing the time needed to complete the work from several days to a few hours.

For situations where water pipes cannot be laid at the recommended depth of 750mm – e.g. over rock, concrete, tree roots etc., our SHalloduct product offers a viable alternative to expensive excavations or damage to the local environment. Fabricated to the same high thermal resistivity as INSUduct, SHalloduct offers a practical solution to awkward situations.

Products are available through most builders' merchants and online, details available on the “where to buy” pages of our web site.

For more information or advice, please visit the Groundbreaker website, call 01379 741993 or email: sales@groundbreaker.co.uk 

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