Home Insurance and Cold Weather

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As heavy snowfall and ice is forecast to hit the UK, you need to ensure your home is insured for snow and water damage.

A yellow weather warning for heavy snow and ice has been issued by the Met Office, with conditions predicted to replicate those caused by the Beast from The East at a similar time of year in 2018. Such extreme weather conditions can cause damage to property, which in turn can result in expensive repair bills.

Which? points out that Halifax home insurance alone received 1,258 claims for storm damage in January 2018 – a 169% increase from the year before. Most home insurers will cover extreme weather damage to property, however if it is determined that your home has not been maintained to a sufficient standard, you may be refused a payout. Which? lists a number of precautions you can take ahead of the cold weather to give you the best chance of avoiding damage to your property or sabotaging your chances of receiving an insurance payout...

Set Your Thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is set to the minimum temperature specified by your heating provider. This is usually 12°C, however can vary depending on suppliers. If your thermostat is not set to this temperature could result in an associated claim being rejected.

Check Pipes

Disconnect and drain any hoses, sprinklers or water features. If the water inside of them freezes, this could cause damage to the appliance and your home, depending on how they are connected.

Insulate

If there are exposed pipes around your home, for instance in basements, attics, kitchen cabinets or garages, try to insulate them as best you can. Heat tape or rubber are good solutions for this.

Find Your Stopcock

The stopcock is a metal valve which controls the cold water system throughout your home. Usually found underneath the kitchen sink, or potentially outside, you need to be able to turn it off in an emergency to prevent potential flooding.

Locate Home Insurance Policy Details

Have your policy details to hand, as it will be much easier to communicate with your insurance provider in the event of an emergency claim. Many insurers will have an emergency helpline too, so do keep this with your policy.

Always check the contents of your policy. We have previously discussed the importance of checking how comprehensive your travel insurance is, but this goes for all types of insurance too. If you would like help on choosing the ideal home insurance policy, please get in touch. Our knowledgeable advisers will be happy to help.