A nasty-looking watermark on a ceiling caused by a leaking shower above Spaghetti junction of plumbing under a kitchen sink protected by FloodSax Water leaking from a radiator onto a FloodSax Boilers can often spring a leak. Best be prepared with a FloodSax

What are the most common causes of floods and escapes of water inside homes and businesses?

Internal escapes of water and flooding are now costing the UK insurance industry £1.8m A DAY ... but some of this huge cost can be prevented or mitigated by FloodSax alternative sandbags. 

Water is merciless in that it wrecks everything it touches, causing untold damage, trauma and misery yet FloodSax costing under £150 can save people thousands of pounds in water damage.

FloodSax are world-renowned as instant alternative sandbags but in their dry state they are flat with a large surface area and the gelling polymer inside them absorbs and retains water.

This means they are ideal for soaking up drips, leaks, spills and flooding in hard-to-reach places such as beneath boilers, radiators, water pipes, windows and appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers. 

To prevent floodwater getting in from the outside simply transform the FloodSax into an an instant 'sandless' sandbag by immersing it in water. The FloodSax absorbs and retains the water so it expands to become an alternative sandbag.

Below are all the ways you could find your home damaged by floodwater.

Frozen pipes: Never turn all your heating off in winter for days on end. If water freezes in your pipes it expands, cracks the pipe and when it thaws it all comes flooding out. 

Mice, rats and other vermin: Yes, our little rodent chums like nothing better than to gnaw away on a delicious water pipe, often in the most inaccessible places. This can especially  happen under the sink and, over time, you can smell the musty aroma of leaking water. Take the kitchen unit kickboards off, have a good look underneath and you may see pipes with tiny holes and water spurting out of them as it passes through. This means the little blighters have been hard at work and, suddenly, live and let live when it comes to mother nature doesn’t seem to be an option. Out comes the poison and mousetraps.

Grouting and seals in showers: Over time water will have an impact on your grout and seals, especially if you enjoy the thrill of a power shower pumped up to maximum effect. The water will hit the same spots in the shower time and time again (not being rude, but where it hits depends on your body shape) and so will take a toll. Once the grout starts to crack and crumble the water will get behind the tiles and then drip down. The first you’ll know about it is when you get a not-so-lovely big watermark on the ceiling below. So the moto is keep an eye on that grout and if it’s crumbling get it out. Then replace it, along with the sealant.

Pipes that simply give way due to the pressure: A lot of today’s plumbing involves plastic pipes which simply push together. All very well but if the water pressure coursing through the pipes is increased it can be too much for the fittings and they budge, with water dripping out which may then lead to a full-blown flood. You’d only know this was happening under the floorboards if the boiler keeps losing pressure or you can smell the pungent aroma of water beneath your feet. Pipes can especially be vulnerable if you have a new boiler fitted and the water pressure it pumps out is far greater than the old one.

Washing machines: Seals can give way on the water pipes leading into the machine in time or the pipes could crack if they get damaged – perhaps if you have to move the machine. The seals we are talking about here are the tiny rubber ones, not the furry cuddly ones you see with David Attenborough.

Water pipes leading to large fridge freezers with ice machines: These are usually tucked away at the back so be careful when moving the appliance – they are so heavy if you catch the pipe you could easily crack it.

Toilets: Seals can give way over time in cisterns causing the water to run into the pan continually but there is also the danger this will leak out. Toilet overflows can also go wrong or seals on the waste pips start to give way. Very inconvenient from something that’s supposed to be a convenience.

Radiators: Great when they’re working, not so great when they’ve developed a leak which is usually a seal on the pipework going in or out. It’s also not unknown for radiators to rust, corrode and the water seep out. You may not realise for ages this is happening if the water is running down onto a dark-coloured carpet.

Pipes under the sink: Kitchen sinks especially can become what we call the spaghetti junction of pipework with pipes coming in and out from everywhere feeding everything from a dishwasher to an outside tap. It’s so easy for them to get caught, tugged or a washer getting worn and the water then drips into the unit or, even worse, through holes in the unit and onto the floor. It then spreads under kitchen floors and before you know it you’ve a hefty repair bill on your hands and a new floor to buy.

Blocked gutters: A blocked gutter on the outside of the house can cause all kinds of flooding problems inside. Debris over the years or a lot of sodden leaves can block the guttering which then sends water over the top and down the side of the property. Water, being water, will then find the quickest and easiest route into the house and perhaps get in where some of the pointing has fallen out. Before you know it you’ve a large damp patch appearing on an internal wall.

Cracked roof slates: Again, once water gets in through damaged slates it finds its quickest course so will run down beams and then drip through ceilings so you might, for instance, find a pool of water on your bathroom floor when it’s raining heavily outside and wonder where on earth that came from. Look up and if you see it dripping through the ceiling you know you’ve got a major problem. Not nice.

Overflowing sinks: Yes, it happens, especially if you have curious little ones in the house who think it’s interesting to see what happens if they put the plug in the sink and then leave the taps on. More expensive than interesting, we’d say. 

Boilers: Boilers involve a lot of pipework with seals and valves all at risk of becoming faulty at some point. Be aware that if you see drips of water appear beneath them get the boiler checked out. You can’t afford for it to worsen either in terms of the money you’d have to spend to repair it and the damage it could cause if the drip suddenly became a flood. You’d also be without hot water for days or even weeks and that could lead to a lot of unnecessary domestic trouble and strife.

Air conditioning units: We are based in Yorkshire, England, so don’t need air conditioning up here – we tend to just open a window and let all that lovely fresh air in. But if you do have a unit to warm you up or to help you keep your cool it could develop a problem. This is because your air conditioning removes excess moisture from the air in your house outside. If the unit’s ducts clog up, the moisture will accumulate inside them and then trickle down to the floor, damaging it.

Sewage backing up through the toilet: Naturally, we’ve saved the most unpalatable to the last. Floods outside or a toilet blockage sends water and a whole lot more back up and onto your toilet floor. Water’s bad enough. The whole lot more is even worse. Popping a FloodSax down a toilet would actually prevent this if it looks like it's starting to happen.

Find out more about FloodSax at http://www.floodsax.co.uk/