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Prevent frozen pipes | Deal with burst pipes | Energy saving tips
Home Emergency cover | Protect an empty house in winter
2 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Being prepared is something we’re good at, so
with that in mind HomeProtect has created this
winter guide especially for you.
Inside, you’ll learn how to prepare for winter with
hints, tips and suggestions to help you look after
your home.
this winter
residents are no strangers to the cold. We
know how to rock an Arran knit jumper and can
make the best of a rainy day!
Disclaimer: The information contained within this booklet is not advice or a recommendation from Avantia Insurance Ltd. Trading as
HomeProtect, Avantia Insurance Ltd. has collated this information from third parties. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information
provided herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Every health & safety
precaution should be taken when making changes to your property.
3 Title of the book
The cold hard facts
How to prevent frozen pipes
What to do with a frozen pipe
What to do if a frozen pipe bursts
Energy saving tips
Long-term empty homes
Upgrade your cover
HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Reduce the risk of storm damage
4 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
The UK gets on average 23.7 days of
snow fall or sleet a year, and Met Office
statistics for Winter 2014 show that
England and Wales had its wettest winter
in almost 250 years! -MetOffice
30% of people in work – over 9 million
Brits – have had to call in sick, take
unplanned holiday or arrive late to deal
with winter-related home emergencies.-British Gas
An average claim for burst pipe damage is
£7,500. -ABI
If you turn the thermostat down by just one
degree you could save £65 a year on
heating costs. -MoneySuperMarket
5 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Home insurance isn’t designed to fix things which aren’t properly
maintained. By making repairs now you can reduce the risk of storm
damage to your home. Simply securing loose slates and removing
dead tree branches can save you cash and hassle later down the
line by avoiding unnecessary damage.
If a storm is heading your way, take a look at our handy checklist to
help ensure your home is protected. Or, for big jobs, consider hiring
a professional.
6 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Close all windows and doors, especially large doors such as
garage or patio doors.
Put garden furniture in a garage or shed, or bring it inside the
house. Remember your washing line poles too.
Check that TV aerials and satellite dishes are securely
fastened. Secure any loose cables and electrical wires.
Clear gutters of leaves and debris. Take care if you’re using a
ladder, especially in high winds!
Check there are no loose roof slates or loose coverings on
sheds and outbuildings. Check chimneys and repair any
broken brickwork.
Clear ground drains of leaves to make sure that rainwater
can flow freely into the drains. Keep an eye on outdoor hose
pipes too, to prevent freezing.
Secure fences, repair garden walls and fix gates that don't
close firmly so they are not damaged by strong winds.
Park your cars in a garage or away from trees and fences.
Remove dead tree branches so they don’t fall.
7 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Temperatures can drop quickly in winter, which can cause the pipes
in your property to freeze or burst. The ensuing damage can really
be a strain on you and your finances.
Homeowners should always make sure that this type of home
emergency is covered by their home insurance policy for peace of
mind.
8
Prevent frozen pipes at
home with this handy
checklist!
HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Insufficient insulation
Exposure to draughts where the pipe meets the property walls
Insufficient circulation of warm air throughout the property
When water freezes, it expands inside the pipes. This puts pressure
on the metal as well as building up a big ice blockage. The pipe will
eventually burst if it is not treated.
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9 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Counterintuitive though it may seem, leaving the tap
running very slightly will help to prevent freezing.
Prevention is better than cure, so take the time to
check and maintain any issues and weatherproof
your home before Winter hits:
• Check and improve the insulation in your loft and
beside water tanks.
• Make sure that pipes are wrapped in pipe lagging,
which acts as insulation.
• Check that everyone in the house knows where
the water stopcock is and that they know to turn it
off in an emergency. This will stop the flow of water
and limit the damage.
• Leave the heating on a low temperature or set it by
a timer to turn on a few times throughout the day,
especially if you are going on holiday.
• Ask a neighbour or a friend to check on the
property at least once a week if you are going to be
away for more than a few days, and definitely if you
are away for over 30 consecutive days.
10 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
11 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
If, despite your best efforts, pipes in your property do fall prey
to freezing temperatures and become blocked, frozen or burst,
then don’t panic. You can take these steps to limit the fallout.
12 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
1. Identify the blockage by feeling the pipe. The root of
the problem will be obvious when you reach a
section that is colder than the rest.
2. Turn off the stopcock to stop the flow of water.
3. Open the tap closest to the frozen pipe in order to
allow the excess water to escape when it melts
away.
4. Do some damage control by moving furniture and
belongings out of the way. Roll back the carpets, lift
the curtains and cover electronic devices in case the
pipe bursts.
5. Let your frozen pipe defrost slowly. Do not use a
naked flame, hairdryer or the central heating. If this
does not work, then you should contact an
emergency plumber or your insurer if you have
home emergency cover.
6. Assess the pipe for damage before turning the water
back on.
13 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Hopefully you will have been able to spot a frozen pipe before it
bursts in your home.
If that’s not the case then you will have to manage the mess. First
things first, contact your home insurance provider.
Depending on the type of cover that you have (and how bad the
water damage is) your insurer may cover the costs of sending out a
plumber, replacing your possessions as ‘old for new’ or provide
alternative accommodation.
14 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Water can leave plenty of issues behind, least of all being the need
to soak up all excess leaks and dry out your rooms and belongings.
Unfortunately there’s no quick fix for this, and you will have to dry out
the property by leaving doors and windows open for air flow, turning
the heating on or investing in a dehumidifier.
Keeping your damaged possessions is worthwhile too, as your
insurance provider may ask to see these (or photos) so as to be able
to process your claim accurately.
I’ve had home insurance for many years and last year
had two claims one for flood and one for a burst pipe- I
know talk about unlucky!!
When it came to renewal home protect came up
trumps and their online form was easy to understand
and felt it covered all I needed.
“
”
15 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Refer to your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This is
a requirement for all properties when they are built, sold or
let. The EPC provides details on the energy performance of
the property so you can take steps to improve it.
If you’re not sure how to access this information, visit
https://www.epcregister.com to search for your property.
16 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Getting your boiler serviced
is really important.
No one wants to be without
heating or hot water when
the temperature drops, so
it’s worth checking whether
boiler cover is included in
your home insurance
policy.
Most homeowners are at home after
work in the evenings. To reduce energy
costs while you are not at home, lower
the heating temperature or set a timer
for it to come on for short intervals
throughout the day.
Seal cracks to reduce draughts around
the house. For instance, use weather-
stripping around windows and doors.
You could also change to heavier lined
curtains for the winter months, which
will also help to keep draughts at bay.
If you use a fireplace over winter, make
sure that you have taken the time to
clean the flue vent or replace any
necessary filters. When the fireplace is
not in use, the damper should be
closed - otherwise it’s just like leaving a
window wide open to the elements!
17 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
18 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
1. Turn your water supply off at the stopcock, unless
the heating system is powered by a condensing
boiler that requires constant pressure.
2. If leaving the heating on to prevent pipes freezing,
make sure that it is always at a minimum
temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.
3. If you are planning to simply turn the heating off
while you are away then don’t forget to drain the hot
water and heating systems so that there is no water
left in the pipes to freeze.
4. Make sure your empty property is checked regularly.
Ask a family member, friend, neighbour or key
holding service to visit the house every few days.
If you are leaving your home unoccupied for more than 30
consecutive days, make sure that you check your policy details
to be certain that your home insurance cover is still in place.
Remember to check any endorsements and the terms and
conditions.
19 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
20 HomeProtect – The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection
Upgrade to Full Home Emergency cover and you can call our
24/7 Home Emergency line if you have an emergency
situation, with no impact to your No Claims Bonus.
This upgrade also includes emergency repairs to your
heating system, repairs if you have a burst pipe, your drains
get blocked or you require alternative accommodation.*
*Terms applyFind out more
Insurance refused
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Poor credit history
Bankruptcy
Criminal convictions
CCJs
IVAs
High risk areas
Foster carers
Childminding
Working from home
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Converted barns
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Flood risk
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Unoccupied
Probate
Second homes
Holiday homes
Disclaimer: The information contained within this booklet is not advice or a recommendation from Avantia Insurance Ltd. Trading as
HomeProtect, Avantia Insurance Ltd. has collated this information from third parties. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information
provided herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Every health & safety
precaution should be taken when making changes to your property.