Advice to homeowners as windstorms and snow batter Britain

With severe gales battering much of the UK, and with snow on the way, Halifax Home Insurance offers some timely advice to help homeowners reduce the risk of weather-related damage to their property.

The Met office has issued warnings of severe gales in Wales, South West England, London and the South East. Heavy snow is also expected in many parts, particularly the north and west of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Senior Claims Manager for Halifax Home Insurance, Martyn Foulds, said: "With the average claim for storm damage costing around £1,000, it is advisable for homeowners to take preventative steps to reduce the risk of damage to their homes, and also ensure they have adequate home insurance cover in place."

Before a windstorm:

Secure any objects which could become hazardous such as garden furniture, barbecues and bicycles, and keep gates and outbuilding doors fastened securely.
Cut back low hanging branches that could cause damage in high winds or storms.
Clear the gutters and drain pipes of any leaves or debris that have built up in them to reduce the risk of blocks and overflows.
Check external light fittings are secure.
Winter weather can play havoc with your home as freezing temperatures can result in burst pipes, with the loft being the most common place for a pipe to freeze.

Prepare pipes for the big freeze:

People can guard their pipes against the freezing temperatures by lagging any exposed water pipes.
Ensure loft insulation is NOT placed beneath water tanks in the loft
Ensure that the tops and sides of water tanks are insulated
Anyone going away for an extended period is advised to turn off their water supply and drain the system OR leave the heating on, set to a least 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If safe to do so, leave the loft hatch open to allow some warm air to rise into the loft space
If your pipes do become frozen the water supply should be turned off at the stopcock, and all taps opened, to drain the system
Never thaw the system out without taking advice from a qualified professional
Externally, remove hose-pipes from outside taps. If the tap has an internal stop tap, shut it off and drain the tap and insulate and cover the outside tap

In an emergency:

Keep a home emergency kit prepared in case of a winter emergency such as a severe storm or snow. This could include torches, spare bulbs and batteries, a battery powered or wind-up radio, your home insurance documents, other emergency contact details, tinned food, warm clothing, blankets and a shovel.
Listen to the radio for regular updates on the weather or other emergency situations.
While most home insurance policies cover many eventualities, there are certain emergencies that require something extra. Halifax offers its customers a 24 hour helpline, manned by fully trained colleagues, who can offer you useful information and advice on how to manage a home emergency.
Halifax’s Home Emergency Cover provides a 24/7 helpline which, for around £4 extra a month, guarantees the provision of an approved tradesperson to make your property safe within hours.

Regular maintenance:

Check the condition of the roof at least once a year and particularly following stormy weather. Look for cracked or broken tiles, cracks in the chimney or problems with the pointing. If any repairs are needed, hire a professional roofing contractor to carry out the work as soon as possible.
Have your boiler serviced at least once a year by a CORGI registered gas professional and have the central heating and gas fires checked to ensure they are working safely and efficiently.
Check that the loft is insulated properly but also has adequate ventilation.
Thicker curtains will help to keep more heat in the home.
Keep the central heating set to at least 10 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.