– It’s cold here, says Heidi Svendsen Torkveen. In the bedrooms on the second floor, the thermometer measures between seven and ten degrees. COLD: The thermometer shows only seven degrees in one of the bedrooms on the second floor. Heidi Svendsen Torkveen has found herself forced to turn off the heat here to save electricity. Photo: VIGDIS HELLA / news The family does not spend money on heating the second floor as an energy-saving measure. In the past, the heaters have been on, but this autumn the electricity bill was too high. – We saw no other options than to do this, she says. She makes sure that the temperature does not get so low that it affects the children’s health. FIRING WITH WOOD: The family gathers more in the living room on the first floor where it is nice and warm. – Fortunately, we have a lot of wood, so we have a good fire in the living room, says Heidi Svendsen Torkveen. Photo: VIGDIS HELLA / news They are not alone in lowering the temperature in parts of the home as a measure to save electricity. Several insurance companies and plumbers that news has been in contact with are concerned that people are now turning off the heat and leaving rooms too cold. This can lead to expensive water damage because water pipes hidden in the wall freeze and burst. How cold is too cold? But how cold can you be for the insurance companies to cover damages? Several recommend keeping a temperature of at least 10 degrees. – Then you have a decent margin of safety. It’s 10 degrees down until it starts to freeze and should something unforeseen happen, you still have a bit to go on, says Ole Irgens in Trygg forsikring. You will be covered for damages if the temperature is lower than this. Have you closed off rooms in the house to save electricity? – The requirement is that you maintain a temperature that ensures that pipes do not freeze and can cause major damage or that things are destroyed, says Arne Voll in Gjensidige forsikring. If it’s freezing in the room, the insurance company will be able to say that you were careless. Then you may risk paying for damages or parts of it yourself. – We say that you should keep it frost-free and then it is up to each individual what that means. If you said five degrees and thought that was enough, I think it will probably be within, says Irgens. Bathrooms and laundry rooms in particular should be at a certain temperature, but there are water pipes in the wall through many other rooms as well, explains communications manager at If insurance, Sigmund Clementz. – In the worst case, you have to pay the entire bill yourself, but then you must have been very unwise, he says. ENOUGH WARM: – Whether it’s eight or 12 degrees, I don’t think it matters that much. But if it’s minus temperatures in the room, it’s unfortunate and you’ll get an ice block within a short time, says Sigmund Clementz in If insurance. Photo: If Billions paid out in compensation Last year, water damage reported to the insurance companies after frost amounted to almost NOK 400 million in houses and cabins, figures from Finans Norge show. On average, the compensation for frost damage was around NOK 45,000 in 2021. The insurance companies are concerned that this will increase in the future. A major water damage can cost up to several hundreds of thousands. Water damage is not detected when it is cold and the water pipes freeze. – When this thaws again, the water splashes out of the water pipe. It’s a situation you don’t want, says Sigmund Clementz, communications manager at If insurance. Problem every year Water damage from burst water pipes is a recurring problem every year, says plumber Per Ove Johansen at Skien Rør og Flis AS. He believes people must think twice before leaving their house or cabin. – Close the main tap when you travel and keep it at least five degrees where there are wet rooms and pipes. Many people feel nice and warm in living rooms, but a cold staircase and don’t think about where the pipes go, he says.
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Concerned that people are turning off all heating to save electricity – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
