10 November, 2011

In early October, as the mercury rose in our thermometers to a record-breaking 29 degrees Celsius, the freezing temperatures for winter seemed a long way off.

Sadly, after having enjoyed the Indian summer, the reality of our usual British autumn/winter weather has returned and we are told to expect an arctic winter.

Over the past two winters at Richfords Fire and Flood we have attended hundreds of homes in Devon and Cornwall where frozen and burst pipes have caused significant damage to property and misery and upset.

However, there are several ways in which homeowners can avoid damage to their property by preparing before the freezing temperatures hit.

Insulation  - Adding extra insulation to your loft space can be a great way of keeping your home warmer this winter and reducing energy bills. However, be sure when adding insulation to your loft that you also insulate or lag pipes. Also adding lagging to your cold water tank can prevent a freeze.

Heating - During very cold periods keeping your heating on even at a low level (12-15 degrees Celsius) can prevent ice from building up and causing a burst. Remember: the living areas of your property will always be warmer than non-living areas, such as the loft space, so if you feel cold indoors your loft space may be freezing.

Turn off the water supply to outside taps - as these are the most likely to freeze.

Unoccupancy - If you are likely to be away from your property for any length of time you should shut off the mains water supply and drain down the system to prevent a burst. Remember: many home insurance  policies have an unoccupancy clause which may mean damage is not covered if the property is unoccupied.

In summary, the freezing temperatures in the UK over the past two winters have caused close to £1 billion worth of damage to homes and businesses. These few simple steps above may help you to prevent damage to your premises this year.

Image source: Sarah and Mike …probably on www.flickr.com