Are you covered for Home emergencies this winter?

11-Dec-2009

As the temperatures drop, it's likely that many of us will experience the stress of frozen pipes and broken heating systems.  However, if you are one of the 87% of the population without home emergency cover, you'll be on your own in the event of a winter-related disaster.

With bitterly cold winters a relatively normal occurrence in the UK, It's important to ensure that your home insurance covers you for accidents and emergencies where specialist help is required.  Otherwise, the costs of calling out a plumber, electrician or boiler repairer could be fairly steep, especially if the call-out is made over the Christmas period.  However, you can also take some simple measures for keeping your home prepared for a cold snap.

Tips from Direct Line Home Response include checking your loft insulation (simply making sure that it is in the same condition as before, without any visible damage or disturbance), and opening the loft door on cold days to allow heat to circulate.  You should also ensure that your pipes are insulated with preformed pipe insulation and replace the washers on taps that drip.  This means that should the taps freeze, the pipes are not in danger of bursting.

If you have a chimney, arrange to have it swept before you start lighting winter fires, as this will guard against any blockages.  Finally, to protect against the common winter issue of frozen pipes, keep your heating on a low, constant level when the temperature drops outside.  If this is not possible, set it to come on at regular intervals throughout the day to maintain the building's heat.  Find out where the water valves in your house are, as you will need to know how to turn them off if a pipe does burst.

Andrew Lowe, head of Direct Line home insurance, warns: "Homeowners shouldn't forget the importance of taking precautions to protect homes against wintry weather.  A few quick and easy jobs undertaken now could prevent damage such as pipes bursting. However, if something does go wrong, knowing you can call on an experienced tradesperson to fix the problem can provide significant peace of mind."

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