Taking care of your home during the winter

As winter takes hold, there is often nothing more appealing than staying indoors in the warmth. Our homes are our barriers against the cold, the rain, the sleet and snow and for that reason it only makes sense to take care of them appropriately, inside and out. From frozen pipes to damp and mould; there are many reasons why proper high value home contents insurance can be the saviour of the season.

Aside from keeping your policy up-to-date, the best remedy for your pocket (and sanity) might be to do a number of checks around the home to check that everything is working the way it should, to avoid anything going wrong. We've got some tips to help you along the way...

Radiate warmth
You are inside for a reason; you don't want Jack Frost nipping at your nose whilst watching TV! Check your central heating is working properly by examining each of your radiators. A cold radiator might indicate that a pin in the thermostatic value has gone awry, whilst a partially warm radiator might mean that it needs "bleeding".

Keep the cold out
Spending money on heating your home can seem like a wasted exercise if you have draughts and leaks around the home. Make sure your insulation is doing its job and ensure that any new cracks are taken care of. Your windows are also essential for keeping the brisk wind away, so if single glazed panels aren't doing you justice consider upgrading to a more robust window.

But don't let it get too hot...
Keeping warm is a priority in the winter, but don't let this turn into a fire hazard. If you have electric heaters, do not cover them with any materials - especially flammable ones. Chimneys also require attention now and again from a qualified chimney sweep; check with a reputable company how often yours requires a sweep.

On the topic of unwarranted heat, checking that your smoke alarm works properly could be the most important move you make this winter.

Avoid burst pipes
On the other end of the spectrum, frozen and burst pipes can create an icy disaster in the home. Preventative measures include insulating all of your pipes, and allowing heat to get into even the unused parts of the home such as the attic.

If you are due to visit friends and family or head away on holiday, keep your heating on low. Heating your home in your absence can seem like a waste of money, but it is certainly better than coming home to burst pipes and extensive damage to your home.

These tips may help you to avert major problems this winter, but unfortunately it isn't possible to rule them out completely. Regal Insurance provide home and contents insurance for those with more to protect, so if the worst does happen they can help you to resolve the situation as quickly and easily as possible. Check out their website http://www.regalinsurance.co.uk/ for more information.

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