Make sure your home can weather the winter

WINTER is coming and your home had better be ready for it, as it may have to withstand storms, floods, ice and snow as our climate gets more extreme. You also need to protect yourself from the shock of a boiler breakdown, burglars targeting Christmas goodies or your freezer packing up and ruining all your festive food.

Carrying out some basic maintenance checks today could save you a lot of trouble later, and you should make sure your household insurance is fit for purpose too.

More than six million Britons – equivalent to a quarter of all households – have suffered damage to their homes due to extreme weather, according to insurer Aviva.

Data science lead Sarah Applegate said now is the perfect time to make sure your home is winter ready:

“Bad weather can happen in any season, but storm claims tend to increase during winter months, so it’s best to be prepared.”

CHECK IT OUT

When extreme weather strikes, your roof will typically bear the brunt of it, so check yours is in good repair, Applegate said. Examine it for loose or missing tiles or slates. Check your gutters are securely attached, and clear out leaves and rubbish which can weigh them down.

Repair any cracked windows or frames, secure fences and gates to make sure they can withstand strong winds, and protect delicate plants against frost and ice.

If you have a wood burner or open fire, consider getting the chimney swept, as the fire risk is higher if it is full of debris,applegate warned. Warm up your stove gently a couple of times before really firing it up, to minimise the risk of cracking bricks.

Consider getting your boiler serviced by a professional. “Lag your pipes and remember insulating jackets for your water tanks and cisterns too,” Applegate said.

Insulate loft spaces, water tanks, pipes and outdoor taps, and replace damaged seals on doors and windows.

Nobody enjoys reading insurance documents but this could be the time to do it. Policies are designed to cover unexpected and unpredictable events rather than general wear and tear, so know what cover you have.

FLOOD FEAR

If you are worried about floods, prepare a home emergency kit including torches, bulbs and batteries, emergency contact details, tinned food, warm clothing and blankets.

In an emergency, turn off the mains supplies of water, gas and electricity, unplug all electrical items and store them upstairs or as high as possible.

Disconnect pipes to the dishwasher and washing machine to avoid damage if they move during a flood.

Empty cupboards and drawers and store contents upstairs or as high possible, especially sentimental items. Take photographs of damaged items as it may help your insurer to settle a claim. Keep your insurer’s contact details handy in case you need to make a claim.

BOILER SAFE

Most of us do not give our boiler a second thought until it breaks down.

A breakdown could leave you without heating and hot water, and they tend to go at the worst possible time, such as Christmas.

A service typically costs around £72, according towhich?.you should consider taking out emergency cover too.

Ryan Fulthorpe, home insurance expert at Gocompare, said: “It should give you a 24-hour helpline for emergency repairs and cover call-out, labour charges, materials and parts, up to an agreed amount.”

Fewer than one in five home contents insurance policies include home emergency cover as standard, but you can buy it as an insurance add-on or stand-alone plan.

British Gas, EDF Boilercare, 24/7 Home Rescue, Home Emergency Assist, Scottish Power and SSE are just some of those offering policies.

Plans cost from £5 to £25 a month, depending on provider and level of cover, and you can compare what’s available on websites such as Gocompare, Uswitch and Moneysupermarket.

But be warned – boiler cover plans may also have exclusions, for example, many refuse to cover older boilers.you may also need to have your boiler regularly serviced or inspected.

‘A quarter of all households in

Britain have suffered home damage due

to extreme conditions’

TAKE COVER

Christmas can be the peak time for burglaries and more than eight in 10 home contents policies temporarily increase cover to protect your gift purchases. Check what yours offers.

Your home freezer is likely to be full at this time of year, too – especially if you are pre-ordering your turkey and trimmings to beat shortages – and could pack up under the strain.

More than nine out of 10 home contents policies cover freezer contents as standard, with many offering cover of £750 or more for the ruined food.again, check.

If children or grandchildren are coming round for some festive fun, it might be worth checking that you have accidental damage cover on your insurance policy in case of breakages and spillages. If not, you can typically buy it as an add-on.

If you do all that, your home should be ready for whatever the winter weather – or overexcited children – throw at it.