Prevent frost bite at home this winter

Frozen pipes and broken boilers are likely to cause problems in many British homes this winter and, with only 13% having home emergency insurance, many households will not be covered for such emergencies.

As temperatures drop, Direct Line Home Response 24 is urging homeowners to start battening down the hatches and protecting their homes against harsh weather this winter.

Andrew Lowe, head of Direct Line home insurance, warns: "Homeowners shouldn't forget the importance of taking precautions to protect homes against wintry weather.  A few quick and easy jobs undertaken now could prevent damage such as pipes bursting. However, if something does go wrong, knowing you can call on an experienced tradesperson to fix the problem can provide significant peace of mind."

Whilst the weather can not be controlled, there are some steps people can take to keep their homes safe this winter. Direct Line Home Response 24 recommends the following to ensure homes remain in tip top condition during the winter months:

Insulate your pipes with preformed pipe insulation and replace the washers on any dripping taps - if the taps freeze, the pipe will get blocked.

Know where your water valves are and learn how to shut them off in case a pipe does burst.

Have your chimney swept before lighting the first fire of the winter.

In very cold weather the heating should be on at a low level, or set to come on a couple of times a day. Most modern boilers have a frost protection thermostat, which turns on automatically if the temperature drops to a level that will cause pipes to freeze.

Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat in.

Check your loft insulation is in good condition. Make sure it has not been damaged or disturbed since you last looked at it.

For homeowners who do have an emergency, Home Response 24 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Home Response 24 assists homeowners immediately when called with an emergency and will send out an authorised repairer for a mutually agreed time.  The product can be purchased by any qualifying homeowner, regardless of whether they have their home insurance with Direct Line.