With another very cold and frosty winter being forecast for the UK, it is worthwhile checking to make sure your house is ready for the low temperatures.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare.

Frozen Pipes

Frozen and burst pipes and the flooding that usually follows as they thaw is probably the No1 cause for winter-related damage to houses in the UK.

However, winter plumbing problems can be largely avoided by planning ahead:

• Check all exposed pipes are lagged and that the lagging is still in place, particularly in lofts.
• Turn off all outside taps
• Clear gutter and drains of leaves and other blockages
• Turn off the water supply when going away for an extended period, ideally leaving the central heating on at a low heat
• When there are very low temperatures outside, consider opening the loft hatch to allow some warm air into the roof space.

Boiler Breakdowns

Preventative maintenance is the best policy, as boilers always seem to break when they are needed most. Get your central heating boiler serviced and the whole system checked on a regular basis. It is better to find you have a malfunctioning radiator in the middle of summer, than the depth of winter.

Home Insurance

Despite the best preparation and planning, problems can still occur. So make sure your Home and Buildings insurance policies are up to date, and read the small print so that you understand what is covered and what is excluded. For example some policies include boiler cover, others do not. You might therefore consider standalone policies to get the coverage you think you need.

Many policies stipulate that the water system must be drained if a house is left  empty in the winter for more than so many days, unless the central heating is left on. Failure to comply will invalidate any claim for water damage.

Be aware, read and understand your policies. If you are unsure, then contact your insurance company or broker.

Need Help?

If you would like further help and assistance getting your home’s plumbing and heating systems ready for the winter freeze, why not contact KDE.

KDE Ltd provides a wide range of plumbing, heating and electrical services to domestic and commercial customers across Cheshire.

Click here for more information about our wide range of services.