Winter is knocking on our doors. The temperatures are dropping, the winds are getting stronger and the rain is becoming even more icy and incessant. Before you know it the whole country will be under the spell of winter and its hazardous weather conditions.
Home insurance is important any time of the year – you never know when a tree could fall on your property or when a burglar could stumble upon your home – but during the winter there is an added risk, especially if you go on holiday and the temperatures drop whilst you’re away. According to one insurer, last winter’s extreme weather resulted in damage to more than three British homes and most of these claims – 45% for this one insurer – were for water damage, mostly from burst pipes.
Pipes burst when the water inside them freezes and expands. The extra pressure leads to cracks which, if left untreated, will break. As the water then warms up it will leak wherever the pipes have burst.
Other areas leading to insurance claims were damaged roofs, fencing and garden walls due to high winds and snow; boiler or heating system failure and damage to external walls, paving and windows.
If you don’t have sufficient insurance cover, you’ll have to pay for repairs and replacements yourself and seeing as burst pipes, malfunctioning heating systems and broken roofs and windows are pretty major problems, particularly during the wintertime, you will need costly emergency repairs.
Both buildings and contents insurance are vital. Santander’s range of home insurance options so you can choose to buy individual or combined cover depending on your needs and budget. Plus, it you apply online, you’ll get a 20% discount.
You need to bear in mind that insurance should be your back up. Your first port of call should be servicing your boiling, checking your guttering and roof and making repairs where necessary. You’ll need to keep your water thermostat on low even when you go on holiday, to prevent the water inside your pipes from freezing. You should also fix any leaking taps and radiators. If necessary, lag your pipes with insulation to offer extra protection.
Preparation is the key to providing a safe, winter-tight home for your family and doesn’t have to cost a lot. Insurance should be there when it all goes wrong, but should not be relied upon in isolation.
Source: http://propertytalklive.co.uk/insurance/7897-winter-freeze-damaged-3-million-homes
