We’re well into January and we haven’t seen the slightest bit of snow all winter, now we’re not complaining, but it does seem a little odd for a British weather. However, this week the Met Office issued yellow warnings for wind and snow and it seems, that this is finally about to change in the next couple of days. Here are a few ways that you can prepare your home for the snow, to help minimalise any disruptions it might cause!
1. Home Emergency kit
Yes, it does sound a little extreme, but British weather really is unpredictable and it’s difficult to know whether you’ll be snowed in or not. If you want to know what you should include in a home emergency kit, use our checklist.
2. Grit the drive
If you don’t live on a main road, it’s likely that the council’s lorries won’t get round to gritting your street. Try and make sure your paths, driveway and route onto the main roads is gritted by collecting some grit from your nearest grit box. If you don’t know where your nearest one is, get in touch with your council to find out. Or, you can also invest in your own and fill it with rock salt.
3. Bring in the pets
If you have pets that tend to live outside, such as rabbits, bring them inside whilst the cold weather hits. Not only can they suffer from the freezing temperatures, but their drinking water will also ice over. Move them into an indoor, sheltered space such as a garage or shed if you don’t want them in the house.
4. Check your vehicles
It’s probably a good idea to make sure your car is in good check before the cold comes to prevent any mechanical issues before you set off for work. There’s quite a few things to bear in mind, including the oil, heater, defroster, thermostat, lights, brakes, air filters, fuel, battery, wipers and tyres.
5. Cosy up
In case of an emergency, make sure you have plenty of warm layers and fluffy blankets around the home. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like if your boiler was to fail you in such chilly temperatures – so make sure you’ve plenty of ways to get warm and cosy nonetheless, particularly if you live with small children or elderly people.
6. Get covered
As we just mentioned, a boiler emergency doesn’t bear thinking about at this time of year. Make sure that you have boiler cover in place. If you do – are you getting the best value for your money? And if you don’t – why? We have a 24 hour emergency claims line, so for peace of mind, check out what cover plans we offer here.
