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Updated on 7th December, 2021 by Martin Astley
The temperatures may be a little higher than they were a few weeks ago, but cold weather could be just around the corner, and much of the country is still struggling with sub-zero conditions.
One of the most common types of home emergency seen in the winter months is that of flooding – dozens of homes flood every time a frost falls. If you have not prepared for cold weather, flooding could affect your home, too – a stitch in time saves nine, so take action now!
Frozen pipes
When the temperature reaches zero degrees C, the water in pipes can freeze. As water expands when it freezes, it puts pressure on the pipe and can damage it. This means that the pipe can start leaking when the water thaws.
- Pipe insulation makes pipes far less likely to freeze, and therefore decreases the likelihood of broken pipes and flooding.
- If your pipe has frozen, be careful when thawing it out – read our advice about thawing frozen pipes to find out how to deal with this problem safely.
Heaters and cookers
Another key risk that cold temperatures pose is that created by cookers and heaters. Electric heaters are particularly hazardous – a lot of house fires occur due to misuse of these appliances.
- If you use an electric heater to keep warm, make sure that you keep it well away from curtains, furniture, litter and anything else that can catch fire.
- Never attempt to dry or warm up your clothes on an electric heater.
- Fit smoke alarms on every part of your home, and check that their batteries work properly. Experts recommend testing smoke alarms every week.
Don’t let down your guard just because the weather is mild and the worst of the winter seems behind us – it will only take a few moments to set up smoke alarms and lag your plumbing! A few days’ freezing weather will be all it takes to break countless domestic plumbing systems across the UK, and when this happens, emergency plumbers will be stretched to capacity. If you don’t have plumbing and drainage cover, you might have to wait for days or even weeks for a repair – not pleasant if you can’t even use your taps!
If you take out home emergency cover with 247 Home Rescue, you will receive assistance within 24 hours of the time you get in touch with us to make an emergency claim – in fact, we’ll aim to get someone to your home within just four hours! To find out more, give us a call on 0345 3192 247.
