How to lower your risk of water damage at home

Escaped water can be highly destructive to your home, its contents, and your health. 

If a pipe bursts or a hose leaks, the resulting flooding can damage your contents – including irreplaceable items and those with sentimental value – and ruin things like cabinetry and carpets.

You and your family’s health can also be put at risk, thanks to lingering effects like mould.  

How to reduce the risk of water damage

Perform regular checks. Inspect plumbed appliances like dishwashers, pipes and hoses under sinks, and tapware. Any sign of wear and tear should prompt you to inspect further, or contact a professional for help. 

How regular checks can affect your insurance

With a GIO Home Insurance policy, damage caused by wear, tear and gradual deterioration is not covered. So getting on top of a minor issue before it becomes a major one can help you avoid the inconvenience of water damage – and the expense of damage to your home that you may not be able to claim for.

For more information on what is and isn’t covered by GIO Home Insurance, refer to the PDS.

Risks presented by flexi-hoses 

Flexi-hoses – that is, the flexible braided hoses that are often found beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks – are a popular choice in Australian homes. They’re a flexible, affordable and easy-to-install way to connect fittings to the main water supply. 

But they’re also not without risk. 

How can flexi-hoses contribute to damage at home?

Flexi-hoses can leak or burst for a range of reasons. These include:

• gradual wear and tear associated with ageing, and
• incorrect installation, leading to a kink or crimp in the hose.

How to reduce the risks posed by flexi-hoses

The corrosion that results in burst hoses usually occurs gradually. It can be visible as a spot of discolouration before the hose fails completely. Regular checks, either by yourself or a hired professional, make it more likely that you can spot corrosion before the hose actually bursts. 

A professional can also ensure that a replacement hose, if one is required, is installed correctly, without kinks or crimps. 

What to do if water damage occurs in your home

If you’re a GIO Home Insurance customer, lodge a claim as soon as you can. 

If you don’t know whether the damage is covered, or you want to discuss your options, please get in touch. 

If you’re not yet a GIO customer, get to know our Home Insurance options and learn whether they’re right for you. Any existing damage caused before you take out a policy won’t be covered, but you can ensure you have coverage for potential insured events in future. 

More about GIO Home Insurance

Read more:

• Why has my home insurance renewal gone up?
• Does insurance cover outdoor living spaces?
• How much should you insure your house for?

*Sourced from claims data for all Suncorp Group insurance brands. Based on claims made for escape of liquid damage in 2022.

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.