The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection [ebook]

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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


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

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/snow/snow-in-the-uk

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/media/r/1317/boiler_breakdowns_put_jobs_in_hot_water

https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2014/12/Avoid-the-big-freeze-steps-to-avoid-frozen-and-burst-pipe-problems-this-winter

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/energy-saving-tips/


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.


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.


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.

Visit our blog

http://bit.ly/1QhjsUS

https://www.homeprotect.co.uk/blog/winter-weather

http://bit.ly/1QhjsUS


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.



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.


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.


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.


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.

“

”


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.

https://www.epcregister.com/


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!



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.



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

https://www.homeprotect.co.uk/our-cover/home-emergency

https://www.homeprotect.co.uk/our-cover/home-emergency

Insurance refused

Insurance cancelled

Previous claims

Poor credit history

Bankruptcy

Criminal convictions

CCJs

IVAs

High risk areas

Foster carers

Childminding

Working from home

B&B and AirBnB

Landlords

Tenants

Non standard construction

Listed properties

Timber frame homes

Steel frame homes

Converted barns

Flat roof

Heritage homes

Subsidence

Underpinned

Flood risk

Renovations

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.

Date post:	12-Apr-2017
Category:	Economy & Finance
Upload:	homeprotect-home-insurance
View:	171 times
Download:	2 times

The Ultimate Guide to Winter Home Protection [ebook]

Economy & Finance