A late start to winter has lulled many Brits into a false sense of security about the weather ahead, with 40 per cent of people yet to do anything to prepare their homes for the cold, a Direct Line Insurance study has revealed.
The research reveals that 40 per cent of homes will be unprepared and vulnerable to issues such as frozen pipes and boiler breakdowns if sever weatherwere to hit tomorrow, because people have not taken measures to protect their property.
Despite last year being the coldest on record, with an average temperature of just -1°C2, people have left their preparation to the last minute.
Last year an estimated 3 million Brits were victims of damaged property as a result of freezing temperatures. The most common claims were damaged roofs and frozen or burst pipes.
Stuart Curson, head of Direct Line Insurance, says while this winter has proved mild so far, “it is important to be prepared for severe weather should it occur later on.
“In addition to checking that your insurance covers the cost of emergencies, taking a few simple actions such as lagging pipes and keeping your home well maintained will go a long way to limiting the damage winter weather might cause.”
Direct Line offered a number of ideas to ensure your home is safe this winter:
– Prepare pipes for icy weather by insulating them with lagging. Don’t forget the corners. You can do those bits by cutting a 45-degree angle in the lagging, and remember to cover all of the joints with duct tape. 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.
– Find your main stopcock and make sure that you can turn it on and off.
– If you have any taps that have a tendency to drip, now’s the time to fix them. Also check to make sure your boiler has been serviced by a Gas Safe professional.
– Try and insulate your home – fit draught proofing to any gaps in windows or doors and make sure wall cavities are well insulated.
– If you’re away from home for a few days during the cold weather, keep your heating on at a low level – at about 15°C – throughout. Open the loft hatch to allow the hot air to circulate.
– 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.
– If your pipes do freeze, turn the water off, drain the system and leave the taps open.
– A good way to thaw out frozen pipes is to carefully use a hairdryer (if safe to do so) or to use a hot water bottle tied to the pipes with a towel. You should start from the end nearest to the tap, which should be open. If you’ve found a leak, put something underneath to collect water. Never use a naked flame, such as a blow torch, to thaw your pipes as this could cause some serious damage.
