How to Avoid Home Emergencies

With a little forward-thinking and a lot of care, you can take control and avoid the trauma of a home emergency. Even if you have home emergency and appliance cover, you’ll still want to minimise the likelihood of a plumbing or electrical breakdown.

Quite often, there is nothing people can do to avoid home emergencies. However, these crises could have been prevented if homeowners had protected their electrical, plumbing, and other utilities.

So, how can you avoid claiming your home emergency policy? Well, there’s no need to worry, as in this blog, I’ll guide you through practical steps to protect your home from common risks.

Situation 1: Water Escape

Leave Your Central Heating On Over Winter

To avoid defrosting frozen condensate pipes, keep your central heating on its lowest setting even when the house is unoccupied. This helps water circulate through your plumbing system without wasting too much money.

If you’re going on holiday, consider asking a friend to visit your home and turn the heating on and off. They can also occasionally switch on the lights or the radio so that burglars think the house is occupied.

Invest in an Automatic Stopcock

An automatic stopcock will shut down your water system if your pipes leak, minimising water damage. Some models even shut off the plumbing if taps aren’t used for a few days, if the outside temperature drops below zero, or if there’s an unusual surge in water usage, all signs of potential plumbing emergencies.

Situation 2: Accidental Damage

Be Careful with Liquids

Many appliances cover claims happen when water is accidentally spilt on electrical items. Avoid placing drinks near home entertainment systems or other electronics.

Plan for DIY

Many home emergencies occur during DIY projects. People often fail to use pipe and cable detectors when drilling into walls, risking rupturing pipes or electric cables. This not only damages property but can also cause serious injuries, fires, or even fatal electrocutions.

Situation 3: Security

Claim on Security Cover Without Delay

If you notice a security issue, such as a broken window or door lock, contact 24|7 Home Rescue immediately so we can send we can send someone to attend to make your home safe. Burglars are opportunistic, and an insecure home is an easy target. Make sure any security issues are remedied quickly.

Get a Friend to Look After Your Home When Away

As mentioned earlier, a friend’s help can prevent plumbing issues when the home is unoccupied and deter burglars by making it look like someone’s home.

Ensure you trust the person and avoid advertising your absence on social media. Additionally, consider cancelling mail and milk deliveries and buying a timer to turn lights on and off automatically.

Invest in Security Devices

Most burglars avoid homes with strong security. Installing security alarms, window grates, CCTV systems, and other devices can make your home a far less attractive target and contributes towards overall home security.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Because burglars are opportunistic, you’re more likely to be targeted if valuables are visible through windows. If you can’t move them, close your curtains.

Lock Your Gates

Any additional barrier makes a thief less likely to strike. Lock your garden gates and keep items like wheelie bins (which can be used to climb) behind locked gates.

Situation 4: Weather Damage

Keep Your Home Well-Maintained

Ensure water flows freely through drains and gutters, and check for loose tiles on your roof. For roofs like those on conservatories, ensure that flat roofs drain properly and do not hold water. Draught-proof your home to reduce energy bills and minimise the chance of pest infestations. Regularly inspect and maintain your roof, gutters, and drains to prevent weather-related damage.

Prepare for Bad Weather

Move garden furniture inside if heavy rain or strong winds are forecast. Also, give your home a quick spot-check for any visible damage that might worsen in bad weather.

Conclusion

You can significantly reduce the risk of unexpected home emergencies by taking these simple yet effective steps, from keeping your heating on low in winter to securing your home with alarms and maintaining your roof and drains. Remember, a little prevention today saves a lot of stress, money, and hassle tomorrow.

However, even with the best precautions, things can still go wrong. That’s why having a reliable home emergency cover is essential for complete peace of mind. At 24|7 Home Rescue, we’re always here to help you when you need it, day or night, providing you with the reassurance you need.