Dark & Stormy

Protecting your home from New Year weather.

Many will see January and February as the darkest point in the year, with cold weather, storms and long nights.

As a homeowner, you should be looking towards the New Year for protecting your home, to ensure you start the year right, leading into spring’s sunnier climate. Here are some things you can do to protect your home for the rest of winter.

Storm-proof Your Home

If you haven’t already done so, your home will need preparing against winter storms. These involve strong winds, heavy rain and ice after-the-fact because of the cold temperatures.

Check places in your home like your attic for pools of water or leaks, contacting a professional if any significant weak points are found.

Prevent blockages in gutters and drains to reduce the build-up of water. This can be maintained easily if you keep on top of it.

Reinforce fences and garden walls that may be exposed to the elements. Doing so will save you money in the event of a whole section needing to be replaced.

Keeping the Cold Out

Ensure your exposed pipes have sufficient insulation to keep the cold away. This will prevent rust and ensure warm water runs smoothly without causing damage.

Pop the heating on for an hour or two every day to make sure your pipes don’t freeze. Otherwise, it could take a long time for the heating to come on.

Keep windows and doors shut whenever possible to keep the heat in. If you’re sat watching the TV in your living room, then the doors don’t need to be open – insulate your home!

Stay Ready for Surprises

Having a toolkit handy for simple DIY fixes and equipment like torches or candles can help you in inconvenient situations. Candles and torches can help with power cuts, whereas toolkits can help with repairs to door hinges and other similar mishaps.

Know your utilities! Make sure you know how to turn off your water, electrics and gas in case of emergency. This can be vital in protecting your home and the people within its walls.

Keep utility professionals’ numbers on your phone so they’re a few clicks away from helping you in an emergency.

Access Your Insurance Policy

Have your insurance details kept safe! Check your insurance policy on who to contact and when to contact in the event a claim needs to be made. This can save you a lot of stress knowing support is there.

Remember to keep your policy up to date and ready for anything. Not sure on how to do this? Take a look at our guide on having an accurate policy here.

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