Industry News from Yes Insurance

Tampering with boilers and making DIY adjustments without the help of a professional can have a serious impact on the success of home insurance claims.

This is the warning of the National Home Improvement Council, which has urged homeowners not to attempt to fix any problems with their boiler themselves.

Technical consultant Andrew Leech said fiddling with gas pipelines, and particularly gas boilers, can lead to "really big problems".

He explained: "If it's proven that you have been tampering with your gas or electricity supply then it would definitely affect your claim to an insurance company."

And he said that as well as risking home insurance payouts self-improvements could also lead to serious injury or illness if they are not carried out correctly by a professional who knows what he or she is doing.

Boiler manufacturer Baxi is also warning people not to DIY their gas boiler after research it carried out in April revealed that 85 per cent of homeowners are planning a home improvement project over the coming months.