It may only be the 1st of November, but the colder days are already setting in and judging by the torrential rain outside the office today, you can never be too prepared. Take a walk late at night now and you will see just how cold it already is. We often take our homes for granted when it comes to keeping us warm during the winter months, but you can never be sure what could happen to your home when the harsh weather takes hold.
You may not be able to predict what could happen to your home. Despite this, there are some little things that anyone can do to prepare your home against the wrath of the cold weather. To help you out, we are giving some tips below that can significantly reduce the risk of serious damage to your property and its belongings at a time when your number 1 priority is keeping warm!
Look after your attic …
Taking care of your attic is a great way to avoid a plumbing disaster. Keeping access to your attic fully clear as well as not having too much clutter will allow warm air to circulate around the attic. This will reduce the chances of any pipes freezing or bursting which could cause considerable water damage to your entire home.
… and make sure it’s insulated too!
Getting your attic insulated will also help keep warm air stay in it for longer and also help to prevent piping damage. Not only is it a cost-effective measure to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting, it will also cut down the cost of heating bills which means more money in your pocket!
Keep that chimney clean!
If you plan to light a fire over the winter months, you should give your chimney a good clean out – especially if you haven’t done it for some time. We recommend anyone to seek the professional help of chimney sweep who will make sure that your chimney is in peak condition and, if necessary, remove any blockages in the chimney. Keeping a clean chimney will sharply reduce the risk of any obstructions catching fire which could spread quickly to cause serious fire damage to your home.
Know where your stopcock is
A stopcock is a tap-like device that is used to regulate the flow of water into your home. Most properties have two of them installed – one on the outside of the property and one inside the property. Knowing where they are located can help you react quickly to turn them off, thus reducing any further water damage to your home. We also suggest you turn off the water supply if you are planning to travel to warmer climes for some weeks during the winter. Restricting the flow of water whilst you are gone will prevent the nasty surprise of coming back to a water-logged home should a pipe burst.
Following these top tips should prevent any winter woes and keep you prepared should you ever need to act. However, if all else fails, our insurance team will be there by your side and help you with the claim process.
