“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” - Mark Twain (1)
Until now.
Aviva has recently created an interactive tool which offers tips on how to protect your home from the extreme weather.
“Extreme weather conditions can cause serious damage inside your home. Flood damage can destroy your interior while cold and frost can wreak havoc with your plumbing. These are some common problems that can be easily avoided.” (2)
“The effects of extreme weather can take time to show. Check your house regularly throughout the year, no matter what the weather. Regular checks will help you to find problems earlier and help you make the changes quickly.” (6)
Recent UK weather
- On the 23rd of January, 2017, temperatures dropped to -7C in London overnight. (3)
- 100 flights were then cancelled at Heathrow as freezing fog substantiality reduced visibility levels. (4)
- The cold has continued, with The Guardian reporting that “freezing fog bringing more disruption at airports and on the roads across the south of England.” (5)
As a result, it might be worth learning a few tricks to protect your home in these harsh conditions.
Indoor tips
Water Pipes
“During the colder months your home may be at risk of burst and/or frozen pipes which can cause untold damage, not to mention stress. Having water leaking from tanks, pipes and/or heating systems in your home is easily preventable if you are prepared in advance of cold weather.” (2)
- “Pipes on the exterior of the house and tanks in the loft that are liable to freeze need to be properly lagged (insulated), ideally from the point of installation. Water tanks and cisterns in lofts or airing cupboards should be wrapped properly in insulating jackets.” (2)
- “Check the taps in your home and put new washers on any that appear to be dripping as these can freeze and block the pipe when the cold hits.” (2)
Bath
“If you are under the immediate risk of flooding then there are some precautionary measure you can take to prevent damage to your plumbing.” (2)
- Make sure gutters and drains are clear so water can drain through easily.” (2)
- To help prevent water from getting into your home by being pushed back up your pipes and out through your plugholes, make sure to put plugs in baths and sinks where possible and put a brick or sandbag on top to prevent water from overflowing through the pipes.” (2)
Radiator
“As with measures you can take on the exterior of your property there are a number of things that you can do within your home to help prevent it becoming too cold and risking the chance of burst or frozen pipes.
- Leave the door to your loft open when it’s cold outside to help warm air circulate. Make sure you have thick loft insulation and make sure it covers as many pipes as possible.
- If you are planning on being away from home for more than a few days then it’s a good idea to keep your central heating at a low but consistent temperature. This prevents the water in your pipes dropping to a temperature where it can freeze.
- To allow warmer air to circulate and get to pipes in hard to reach places and neighbouring outside walls, leave internal doors open and also kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors.” (2)
Window
“In the event of a serious storm you need to stay indoors. Avoid driving or leaving the house to assess any damage until the weather has calmed down. There a number of ways you can protect yourself and your home in the event of a storm or very strong gale.
- Close the curtains in the house just in case any windows are broken during the storm.
- Keep an emergency kit in the house in preparation for if the power goes out. This should contain: bottles of water, a torch, candles, matches, batteries and dried food such as cereal bars or crackers.
- Consider putting plastic or cling film across your windows for added insulation and to catch any broken glass.” (2)
Electrical Appliances
“Electricity and water are not a fun combination and if you are in danger of flooding you need to be very cautious about electrical devices within the home. There are number of steps you can take to prevent any accidents or electrical damage during a flood.”
- If you live in an area at risk of flooding it is definitely worth raising the height of sockets in your home to 1.5 metres above ground level.
- All valuables should be stored on shelves or above waist height e.g. consider mounting televisions on the wall.
- If flooding is imminent turn your electricity off at the mains to avoid to avoid power surges and damage to the electrics in your property.” (2)
Outdoor tips
Roof
“Low and fragile garage roofs, conservatories or porches may struggle to bear the weight of a lot of snow which could cause damage. Snow that comes loose from roofs could also cause guttering to buckle or even snap if there’s heavy snow fall.” (6)
Chimney
“If a storm or gale is forecast to hit your area, it’s wise to check that nothing could fall from your roof and cause damage.
Chimneys should be surveyed (with caution!) to make sure that there is no risk of them coming loose and falling on anything or anyone in the event of a storm. As you check the state of the chimney you should also make sure that there are no roof tiles that are loose. Also ensure that satellites and aerials are secure and are unlikely to fall or come unfixed should a storm or gale occur.” (6)
Walls
“Even if all other points of possible entry are covered, such as windows and doors, floodwater is still very likely to find its way into your property via ventilation bricks.
To protect from flooding, normal bricks, which are usually made from clay, can be replaced easily by plastic air bricks that automatically self-seal if flood water tries to penetrate your property.” (6)
Garage
“The garage is usually a particularly cold part of the house but also often a place where a lot of important plumbing and electrical equipment is found.
- If you are away for a prolonged period of time it’s a good idea to turn off your inside stop tap and drain the system, this way there is no water in the pipes to freeze.
- Keep your car in the garage to prevent any damage to the engine or locks that might be caused by frost or cold.
- Make sure that everyone in the household knows where they can turn off the gas and electricity at the mains – usually found in the garage.” (6)
Doors
“If you live in an area with a high flood risk you will want to protect your home and belongings as much as possible to limit the damage and costs you might incur.
Investing in door guards for the external doors on the ground floor will prevent dirty flood water from entering your home and soiling your furniture and possessions.
Flood guards are largely used to manage flash flooding and can easily be fitted over your doors. They can be made to size for any door and can be fitted above the doorstep and sealed on either side of the door to prevent water getting through.” (6)
View the original interactive tools here:
Outside the house
Inside the house
Checklist for potential issues
Keeping your home healthy before, during and after bad weather
Written by Jenna Kamal
Sources
- http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2009/08/everybody-talks-about-weather.html
- http://www.aviva.co.uk/home/extreme-weather-checklist/inside.html
- http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-weather-temperatures-plunge-to-7c-as-forecasters-warn-of-freezing-fog-a3446676.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/24/uk-weather-freezing-fog-returns-travel-misery-expected/
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/24/travel-and-pollution-warnings-as-uks-cold-foggy-weather-continues
- http://www.aviva.co.uk/home/extreme-weather-checklist/
Disclaimer and Legals
Property Moose does not provide any advice in relation to investments and you must rely on your own due diligence before investing. Please remember that property prices can go down as well as up and that all figures, rates and yields are projections only and should not be relied on. If in doubt, please seek the advice of a financial adviser. Your capital is at risk if you invest. This post has been approved as a financial promotion by Resolution Compliance Limited.
Property Moose is a trading name of Crowd Fin Limited which is an Appointed Representative of Resolution Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (no: 574048).
