Home essentials to help you through extreme weather
It’s been a week of extreme weather events and forecasters predict that this is something we need to get used to, thanks to global warming.
Business comparison experts at Bionic have pulled together some guidance while the Roofing megastore also has some advice on checking for roof damage.
Items should you keep in your home as part of a survival kit include a portable charger to ensure that essential electrical items, such as your phone, still have power as you will need to alert others that your power has gone off and that you may need assistance.
Ensure that you keep some bottled water or purified water for emergencies. If your taps aren’t running clean water due to a tank failure and you aren’t within a short distance of a shop, it is important to have essentials to stay hydrated.
Matches, lighters, candles and flashlights are essentials to ensure you are able to light your home. If you are relying on a flashlight, ensure that you have the extra batteries to keep it working.
Think about installing fibreoptic broadband as fibre-optic cables are not as susceptible to some of the more severe weather conditions that the UK sees compared to cable internet, meaning it helps to minimise outages, especially in rural areas.
Keep your home safe and secure from burglaries if you have to leave during a power outage. Close all the windows and lock doors before you leave the house. Remember, no power means your burglar alarm may not work properly. If possible, use a portable music device like a bluetooth speaker to play music in your home while you are gone. This will create the illusion that someone is still in.
You should also leave one or two light switches on. This way, if the power comes back on while you’re out of the house, a burglar will assume that someone is in.
If your boiler has gone off, sometimes a simple reset is all that’s needed. The boiler reset button should be somewhere on the front control panel. If you can’t find it, check your boiler manual and follow the instructions. If this fails, try and turn it off and on again.
Alternatively, your boiler may also just be low on pressure, which happens over time. To fix this you need to find the filling loop, usually the silver flexi pipe with either one or two black taps on. Then start to increase the pressure by opening your taps fully until they lock at 45 degrees. You should start to see the pressure gauge increasing. When it goes green, you’ll need to close the taps again. To find out how to top up the pressure on your specific model of boiler, check out your user manual.
As for roof issues, GianCarlo Grossi, managing director at Roofing Megastore says: “Due to how exposed it is, your roof space will often be at risk of damp and mould, which present health risks and can weaken the structure of your roof if left unchecked.
Storms can wreak havoc. Any roof tiles or shingles that are loose are at risk of being broken or blown off completely, which is both unsightly and presents significant weak spots if left unfixed.
While hail is less common, it can cause serious damage so inspect your roof tiles after a heavy hailstorm, as any dents left in them are a perfect breeding ground for future mould growth and potential leaks.
A few dislodged tiles, hail dents or blocked guttering are easy to fix with some basic DIY knowledge – otherwise hire a professional.