Is your property ready for autumn and winter?
It’s that time of year again when temperatures drop, the nights are drawing in, and the leaves are on the turn. With flooding being a continual threat, we’re getting used to bad weather warnings year-round, but allied with winter weather conditions, it can lead to lots of issues within your property. To help you avoid unnecessary damage, we’ve provided some guidance, simple tips, and maintenance checks to help you get your property ready before the cold weather sets in.
Preparing for winter weather
It’s always advisable to conduct essential maintenance checks on property and premises to ensure everything is watertight, safe and functioning as it should. This is particularly important if the property has been left empty. This internal/external checklist helps you protect your property and avoid some of the most insurance common claims submitted:
Internal:
- Have your boiler serviced
Your boiler should be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Autumn is the optimum time to do this, as you’ll start using your boiler more.
- Bleed radiators
Make sure the rest of your heating system is in order by bleeding radiators to eliminate any air bubbles that could cause cold
sections in the heating system. It’s good advice to turn on your heating system for at least an hour daily.
- Test your carbon monoxide alarm
As you start to use heating more and light the fire, a broken carbon monoxide alarm could be deadly. Press the ‘test’ buttons to ensure the unit is working. If not, replace it.
- Check fire and smoke alarms
Ensure fire and smoke alarms are working, especially if you have a wood burner or open fire.
- Make sure your home is energy-efficient
To help reduce heating bills, check windows and door frames for leaks and drafts. If there are, use a draft excluder and install weather stripping around the window frame – simple but effective!
- Sweep chimneys
Before lighting the season's first fire, have the chimney swept to remove any blockages.
- Know where the stopcock is located
In the event of frozen pipes, know the location of the stopcock and turn off the water to prevent pipes from bursting.
External:
- Regularly maintain guttering and drains
Autumn is a good time to inspect and clean your gutters, remove leaves, moss, and debris to prevent clogging, and ensure proper drainage. Blockages caused by fallen leaves could cause severe problems for your drainage and sewer system, potentially causing damp issues inside and out if water enters the roof space.
- Check roofing regularly to ensure it is in good condition
Replace loose or missing tiles to prevent water from entering the roof space or tiles from dislodging and potentially causing injury. Check that flat roofing is watertight; if not, repair or renew it.
- Tidy your garden
Give your lawn a final cut, prune trees and shrubs as soon as the leaves turn orange to encourage healthy growth, and particularly those close to power lines or your roof. Large trees near your property should be professionally maintained and pruned, ensuring dead or loose branches are removed to prevent damage in high winds.
- Check external areas
Check for any areas where a heavy downpour could cause water to build up and flow towards your property. It’s important to ensure rainwater drains away naturally from patios, decking and driveways.
- Store garden furniture
Store any external freestanding items, such as tables, chairs and parasols, in a garage or storeroom to prevent damage or theft.
- Check outdoor lighting
Outdoor lighting provides good illumination during dark mornings and evenings and helps to deter thieves. So check that the lights are working, and replace bulbs if necessary.
- Buy de-icing salt for your driveway
Make sure you are ready for any big freeze by having salt on your driveway before the snow or ice arrives.
It’s always a good idea to watch reports from the Met Office, especially if your area has severe weather warnings. If there is a flood warning, move as many possessions and your pets as possible to a higher level, and if you’re flooded, don’t re-enter the property or use electrical items until you know the electricity has been turned off.
By carrying out these basic maintenance checks, you’ll help to protect your property against the winter weather and hopefully avoid making an insurance claim. Prevention is always better than cure!
Our business is your protection. To talk to TMD about your property insurance policy, please call us on 01992 703 000 or email insurance@mcdonaghs.co.uk