Home insurance is there to give you peace of mind in case of a claim, but we can't repay the time, effort and stress that winter weather damage to your home may cause you and your family.
So here are some simple tips to help protect your home this winter.
First things first
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During a cold snap, leave the heating permanently on low. 15 degrees is about right. |
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Make sure all your pipes are insulated, in and outdoors. |
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Check your loft insulation's thick enough. It should be around 10 inches deep. |
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If your water tank is in the loft, this should be insulated as well. Don't insulate the bottom or the floor right underneath it. A bit of warm air getting through will help stop it freezing. |
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Next up, check and repair
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Find your main stopcock and make sure that you can turn it on and off. |
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If you've got a dripping tap, fix it. Remember to check all your outside taps, too. |
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Remove loose or overhanging tree branches from your property to prevent damage from wind and snow. You may need to speak to your Local Authority to see if any trees are protected. |
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Check for any damage to chimneys, loose roof tiles or unsecured TV aerials. Or get a professional in to help. Good home maintenance reduces the risk of more damage occurring during bad weather. |
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Clean out gutters to prevent rainwater overflowing and getting into plasterwork and decorations. |
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Going away?
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If you're away from home for a few days keep the heating on at a low level – about 15 degrees - throughout. |
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Leave the loft door open. Warm air will circulate up to the roof, and should help stop things freezing. |
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If you're away for a longer period of time, it might be worth draining the pipes down completely. Turn off the mains and the stopcocks. Then run the taps and flush the loos till all the water's gone. |
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Also, asking a friend or family member to check your home every so often while you're away can be a good idea. |
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If you're going away for more than 30 days, call your Insurance Co.. If you don't, it might affect your policy. |
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If a cold spell is on its way, there are a few simple actions you can take to help prevent the
pipes in your home from freezing and causing damage.
How to help insulate and protect your home
Prepare pipes for icy weather by insulating
them with lagging. Don’t forget the corners.
Make sure you’ve lagged any pipes you might
have outside.
Check to make sure your loft insulation is
thick enough. It should be around 10 inches
deep. Also, make sure that your water tank is
covered - but not underneath, so warm air can
circulate.
1 Step one
Find your main stopcock and make sure that
you can turn it on and off.
2 Step two
If you have any taps that have a tendency to
drip, now's the time to fix them. This will help
prevent problems when the wintery weather
comes.
And don't forget any taps that are
outside. Also, check to make sure your boiler
has been serviced by a Gas Safe professional,
preferably in the summer to give you enough
time to have any work done before the cold
weather sets in.
3 Step three
4
Try and insulate your home – fit draught
proofing to any gaps in windows or doors and
make sure wall cavities are well insulated.
Step four
5
If you’re away from home for a few days keep
the heating on at a low level – about 15
degrees - throughout.
If you’re away for a
longer period of time it might be wise and
more cost effective to shut down the system
completely, turn off all the mains, stopcocks
and drain down pipes, toilets and radiators.
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If the pipes in your home have frozen, just follow these quick steps to help prevent or limit any
damage.
What to do if your pipes have frozen
Ok. First things first – turn the water off, drain
the system and leave the taps open.
1 Step one
A good way to thaw out frozen pipes is to use
a hairdryer. Just run the hairdryer up and
down the pipes a section at a time. If you’ve
found a leak, put something underneath to
collect water. Only use a hairdryer when safe
to - being very careful if near water. If the pipe
is damaged, the water could spray up and
cause electrocution.
2 Step two
If you'd rather, you could use a hot water bottle
tied to the pipes with a towel. But whatever you
do, don't use a naked flame like a blow torch to
thaw your pipes as you could cause some
serious damage.
3 Step three
4
If your pipes thaw and they don’t seem to be
damaged, slowly open your stopcock until
water starts running through the taps again.
Then you can turn your taps off.
