Don't get caught out by the cold snap

With weather forecasters predicting temperatures of minus 10 in some areas over the next couple of days, Club Care would like to offer our customers a few tips to ensure that you and your home remain safe during the cold snap, and give you some advice of what to do if the worse should happen and something goes wrong.

Protect the pipes in your home

Preventing frozen pipes

As the weather gets colder, one of the greatest problems homeowners face is preventing frozen pipes. There are a number of things you can do to stop pipes freezing in your home:

• Keep heating on continuously (above 4°C)
• Protect your pipes with lagging, which should be at least 5cm in diameter
• Repair any leaking taps or faulty ball valves that could cause the pipes to freeze
• Be aware of where the stop cock is, just in case you notice pipes are freezing.

If your pipes should freeze, turn the water off and thaw them out with a hot-water bottle or hairdryer, and turn cold taps on to help drain the system through. Make sure you don't use a naked flame or boiling water  and if water is leaking from the pipe be very careful with electrical appliances. If water has come in contact with any electrical items do not touch them and call in an expert.

What to do if a burst pipe occurs

If a pipe has burst then follow the steps below to minimise damage and call your insurance provider (numbers are listed below).

• Turn off the water supply at the stop cock and in the cold water tank.
• Switch off the central heating.
• Try to find the area where the pipe has burst. If it is in the cold water tank, empty it by running the cold taps and flushing the toilets. If it is the hot water tank, switch off the boiler and immersion heater (if you have one) and turn off the pipe sending cold water to the cylinder. Then run all the hot taps to drain the system.
• Take photographs of any damage to give to the insurance company.

Bleed radiators

Removing air from the radiators  - or 'bleeding' them - will make your heating system more efficient, which is particularly useful when temperatures dip significantly. Using your radiator key, simply open the valve and let the air out of the radiator, which will make a hissing sound. Have a bowl below the valve in case some water leaks out once the air has been removed. Once the air has released simply tighten the valve back up and enjoy hotter radiators.

Take care of outside pipes

If you have any outside pipes that are exposed to the freezing temperatures, make sure that you protect them with lagging. If possible you should turn off outside water supplies to prevent the pipes from freezing and causing damage to your home.

Clean out gutters

Make sure that you have cleared your gutters of any leaves and debris so that your guttering is working efficiently if snow should fall and melt.

Clearing snow from the roof

Most homes are built to withstand the weight of snowfall, but if you become concerned or hear creaking noises then carefully remove the snow that it is safe to. To do this get a large rake and scrape the snow off the roof where you can reach. Make sure you have someone else with you and be aware of where the snow will fall. If your house is well-insulated then you should find snow melts naturally if you keep the rooms warm.

Prepare an emergency kit for the car

It is a good idea to have an emergency kit of essential supplies in your car, just in case you should find yourself unable to get home. Make sure this includes:

•     A blanket
•     A torch
•     Water
•     Non-perishable food
•     De-icer/ice scraper
•     A shovel

You should also make sure that your car has plenty of petrol as you may find yourself diverted if roads have become impassable.

Sort out your winter clothes

As the temperature drops you need to make sure that you have plenty of warm clothes and blankets ready to protect you from the cold.

Buy in a few home essentials

Make sure you have everything you need in case you find yourself unable to get out for a few days. Pay particular thought to:

•     Any necessary medications
•     Bottled water
•     Non-perishable food
•     Pet food
•     Batteries
•     Candles and matches

Emergency telephone numbers

If you have Home Insurance with Club Care these are the numbers you will need if anything does go wrong:

Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc ("RSA")
Please contact RSA on 0845 675 0410

Groupama Insurance Company Ltd
Please dial Club Care on 01277 243003

If you are not sure who your policy is with, please call Club Care directly on 01277 243060.

If you have Gas Central Heating cover and experience a breakdown, please call:

Home 3 Assistance HELPLINE Number on 01277 243 047