An increase in the number of plumbing problems experienced by homeowners has been predicted, which may lead to more work for technicians who have completed plumbing courses.
Head of general insurance at M&S Andrew Ferguson noted that people can be forced to spend thousands of pounds to fix issues relating to burst or leaking pipes.
The company revealed it recorded a 220 per cent increase in the number of claims for burst pipes in January 2010, which is likely to have provided plenty of work for tradesmen with plumbing course qualifications.
"Many householders may not realise the huge amount of damage and hassle that can be caused by burst pipes," said Mr Ferguson.
In his opinion, holidaymakers would be sensible to ask a friend to check on their house regularly to make sure everything is in order, particularly if they are going away for a long time.
Recent advice reported by OregonLive suggested people should shut off and drain their water system if they go away for more than a few days.
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