With all the talk of global warming we may have become a bit blase about the importance of winter proofing our homes. Follow our simple steps below and they could help ensure that you won’t be left counting the cost of the next cold snap.
Why do it?
There are a myriad of reasons for winter-proofing your home with perhaps comfort being at the front of most people’s minds - after all, no-one wants to be sat on the sofa shivering as a north-easterly howls through a cold and draughty house.
Obviously, adequately winter proofing your home can also have the benefit of using less energy to heat your house, thereby reducing both your fuel bill and your CO2 emissions.
But something many people overlook is the cost involved in repairing any damage caused by winter storms, both in terms of bills and the increase in your insurance premiums that making a claim will cause. Last winter alone, Halifax revealed that the average cost of repairing a frozen pipe was £2,000 per person.
Prevention is the key
Perhaps the worst thing about this kind of seasonal damage is that in many cases it is largely preventable. As with many things in life, prevention is the best cure and a simple MOT of your house could end up helping you save hundreds of pounds in repair bills and your insurance premiums.
The key is locating and fixing the problem before it is made worse by the ravages of winter. Start your winter MOT on the exterior of your home as this is usually where it is most vulnerable. Ideally you should try to carry out any repairs before winter starts to bite, but never think it’s too late to check. Even following a cold-snap you can always take advantage of any thaw to give your home a once-over.
If you haven’t already done so, you should also ensure that you do have building and contents insurance as a burst pipe could potentially cause damage to both. If you need any help finding a policy that offers sufficient cover against the worst of the winter storms then try using our power search or comparison tables.
Pipes
Water pipes are particularly vulnerable to freezing at this time of year. Your first step should be to check the lagging on all pipes and cisterns in unheated areas like your loft. Pre-formed tubular insulating material is the best and is readily available at most DIY stores.
Should the worse happen, it is important that you are familiar with the location of your stop taps so that you are able to quickly turn off your water supply. Typically your stop tap will be located under a sink and there should also be one on your hot water tank (if you have one). It is a good idea to also make sure that all your stop taps are in good working order.
Any dripping taps should also be repaired and if you are going away for the weekend then it is a good idea to leave your central heating on low to prevent the pipes freezing. Also leaving the loft hatch slightly open can allow warm air to enter the loft and also prevent your pipes freezing.
If the worst does happen and a pipe bursts, then you should turn off all the stop taps and call a plumber immediately (or your Home Emergency helpline if you have this cover in place).
Roof and Guttering
If you are able to safely, then it is very important to check both your roof and your guttering as part of your winter MOT. Check for any loose roof tiles as you don’t want any rain coming in.
While you are up there among the clouds, take time to also check your guttering. Pay particular attention to the ends of your guttering, as this where it can become blocked with leaves and cause water to spill over – which can cause a lot of damage if it falls directly onto the roof of an extension or conservatory. Watch out for any icicles hanging from the guttering during a cold spell as these are also a give-away of where your gutters may be blocked or leaking.
House exterior
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden then it is a good idea to be aware of any tree branches that could potentially cause damage to your home. If the tree in question belongs to a neighbor then you are within your rights to lop-off any offending branches which overhang your property – but, in the interest of maintaining good neighborly relations, it is always best to ask before you start chopping!
If you have creeper plants that grow up the sides of your house then it is also a good idea to check your exterior brickwork for any cracks. Creeper plants can cause cracks in exterior brickwork which can then be exacerbated if moisture gets it and then freezes during sub-zero temperatures.
Inside your home
Getting your boiler serviced or inspected should always be at the forefront of any winter MOT. Winter is the time of year that you need your boiler most and it would be the worst possible time for it to breakdown. The last thing you want is to be without central heating during a cold snap, both for reasons of comfort and it increasing the likelihood of suffering from frozen pipes.
With the cost of fuel going up, many people are relying on more traditional means of heating their homes such as real fires and wood burning stoves. If you are burning either coal or wood to heat your home, remember to get your chimney swept regularly as a blocked chimney can become a major hazard and even cause a house-fire.
Ensuring your loft has adequate insulation and even fitting draught excluders will both help keep your house warmer and save you energy. Fitting draught excluders to doors and windows is often over-looked by home owners, but it is very cheap to do and could knock a further £25 off your next energy bill.
Amazingly, recent research by the Energy Savings Trust has revealed that over a quarter of homes in the UK still have no loft insulation. The EST recommends using 270mm of insulation, so even if you do have loft insulation it is always worth checking to see if it can be improved. It is estimated that installing loft installation up to 270mm thick could save you about £150 per year from your energy bill.
There are grants and offers available which will help you pay for loft insulation. You can search for details on the EST’s grants and offers database.
