As you may know, at Boswell Aftermarket we have a team dedicated to looking after your personal insurance needs and, with winter now here we thought it’s time to remind you about some useful tips to protect your home for the colder months. If you’d like to talk to us about your personal insurance needs, please contact our team on 01603 626155.
• Have gutters checked and cleared of any debris and leaf litter. As the winter weather closes in, blocked gutters can lead to overflowing water which can damage brickwork, pointing and fascia boards.
• Changing temperatures can lead to mould forming indoors as clothes are brought inside to dry and windows aren’t opened due to colder temperatures outside. Consider using a dehumidifier if ventilation can’t be improved in other ways.
• Insulate all exposed water pipes in the loft and outside.
• Keep a good layer of insulation in the loft to retain heat in the house and save money on energy bills, but check that the insulation doesn’t go under the watertanks – the heat rising from the house will help prevent them from freezing.
• In severe cold temperatures consider keeping the heating on for longer
• Check metal water tanks to ensure they’re not corroding. The cold weather can accelerate issues and lead to leaks.
• Make sure you know where your stop valve is, and make sure you can turn it easily.
• If the heating fails during freezing conditions or the system starts making loud banging noises, this could indicate that there are pipes that are freezing. If this happens, turn off the boiler and call a plumber immediately.
• Regularly check flexible hoses on plumbed-in appliances.