DIY or Catastrophe: Concealed Risks of TikTok Advice for Seasonal Home Upkeep
- Nicole Ng
- Jan 28
- 4 min read
Experts in holiday homes analyze which viral TikTok home maintenance hacks may assist or impede your property.
Similar to a primary residence, the upkeep of a vacation property is essential to guarantee its safety and integrity, particularly during the winter season. In light of the cost-of-living problem, numerous homeowners are choosing to do basic repairs independently.
Searches for 'house maintenance recommendations' on TikTok have surged by an astonishing 3,700 percent over the past year, indicating a growing interest among homeowners in DIY maintenance guidance.
Intasure, a Gallagher firm specializing in holiday house insurance, has analyzed viral home maintenance TikTok videos to assess whether these hacks are advantageous or potentially damaging to properties, which could jeopardize homeowners' insurance coverage.
Clearing gutters: Secure
A TikTok maker garnered 77.2 thousand views in a video demonstrating the process of removing leaves and debris from gutters. The video illustrates how use a garden hose or leaf blower attachment can effectively clear gutters, therefore decreasing the danger of harm associated with ladder use.
Gutters safeguard your home's structure by directing rainfall into the drainage system. Holiday homeowners should be informed that neglecting proper gutter maintenance may result in moisture accumulation and bug infestations within their residences. Intasure advises routine gutter cleaning by utilizing the instruments recommended in the video or by visiting a professional for clearance. Significant damage resulting from inadequate gutter maintenance can hinder the efficacy of your home's waterproofing systems. This may result in an insurance denying a claim, obliging homeowners to bear the expenses of required repairs.
Performing Maintenance on a Boiler: Refrain
Frigid temperatures can lead to a reduction in boiler pressure, as the pipes connected to the boiler may freeze and create an obstruction. A TikTok creator demonstrated the procedure to follow if a boiler experiences a loss of pressure in a video that has garnered 144.1 thousand views. Holiday homeowners are cautioned against interfering with their boiler, as this may result in additional, more severe damage. To obtain holiday home insurance for a boiler problem, homeowners may be required to demonstrate that it has been professionally serviced within the preceding year. Homeowners should review their insurance wording for any heating conditions and warranties that must be adhered to throughout the winter months.
Intasure recommends that holiday homeowners consult a plumber upon encountering any problems with their boiler. Although they may perceive the situation as easily resolvable, it is unwise to jeopardize potential long-term harm and invalidate the home’s insurance.
Clearing a Drain: Safely and Cautiously
Blocked drains can arise from the accumulation of food and oil in the drainage lines, rendering a sink inoperative. Monthly, there are 17,000 searches in the UK on TikTok for 'how to clear a drain.' One video, in particular, has garnered 561.4 thousand views, demonstrating to viewers the method for unclogging their under-sink drain. If the obstruction appears straightforward to resolve and can be remedied by detaching the U-bend waste pipe, this can be executed without professional assistance. Nevertheless, if the obstruction is more severe, it is advisable to have a professional address it. If the homeowner exacerbates the blockage or damages a plumbing component, this may render the holiday home insurance void. Intasure recommends that holiday homeowners consult their insurer to determine coverage for drain blockages caused by unforeseen incidents such as a burst pipe or sewer backup.
Avoid Window Repair
Window issues may arise at any moment during the year, including cracks or malfunctions in the window's system. There are 19 million TikToks addressing 'DIY broken window repair.' One video, in particular, amassed 237.1 thousand views, when the creator demonstrated how to open a window with a defective handle. Viewers are instructed on how to open and close a window by inserting a card into the handle to disengage the latch.
Intasure recommends that individuals refrain from following this guidance and instead consult a professional immediately when a window ceases to operate correctly. Interfering with a window may nullify a homeowner's insurance, as it could compromise the mechanism over time and hinder its closure. In the absence of evidence indicating forcible entry, a defective window may nullify the claim, as it fails to demonstrate that the residence was entirely secured.
Avoid repairing burst pipes.
In frigid conditions, water pipes are more susceptible to rupture due to the freezing and thawing of water, which leads to cracking. If a holiday residence will remain uninhabited for an extended duration during winter, the homeowner should contemplate shutting off the water supply to avert pipe damage.
Among nearly 80 million TikTok videos providing 'water pipe repair' guidance, one specific video has garnered 179.1 thousand views, demonstrating how to repair a burst water pipe. It is recommended to quickly shut off the stopcock upon discovering a burst pipe; nevertheless, householders should consult a professional plumber instead of attempting repairs themselves. By undertaking repairs on the pipe independently, the homeowner jeopardizes the plumbing, potentially exacerbating the problem.
Andy Hale, Holiday Home Specialist at Intasure, stated: “Conducting maintenance on a holiday home is advisable to ensure the property remains functional and to prevent unforeseen damages, particularly during the colder months.”
TikTok maintenance guidance may appear straightforward; nonetheless, these videos should be treated with prudence, as many are not suitable for novices and necessitate the expertise of trained craftsmen.
The homeowner may inadvertently exacerbate damage to their property when attempting to resolve plumbing or boiler issues, for instance. This damage may not be encompassed by their holiday home insurance coverage, resulting in the homeowner incurring expenses for harm they have inflicted.
If a homeowner is uncertain about whether maintenance tasks are safe to perform independently, it is advisable to obtain professional counsel and help.
Yorumlar