So far this winter we have been very lucky with the weather—apart from some gale force winds. The average temperature has been fairly mild and we have had very few frosty mornings as a result, but judging by the weather forecast today, we are in for a cold spell within the next few days, so before you end up cleaning up the after effects of cold-related damage, think about taking some simple steps to protect your properties from the cold weather.
Plumbing is a major disaster area when the mercury falls. Inadequately insulated pipes freeze up and then burst once the temperature rises. The end result of this state of affairs is usually a flood, which can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage and leave a property uninhabitable for months. The best way to prevent a burst pipe is to ensure any vulnerable sections of pipe have plenty of insulation on them, but if the property is vacant for any length of time, it is a good idea to leave the heating on, albeit set to a lower temperature than normal. This will help to prevent any burst pipes indoors.
If the worst DOES happen and you are faced with a flood in one of your properties, contact your insurers and try to organise remedial repairs as soon as possible. The longer you dither over sorting the problem out, the more long term damage will occur—wet carpets can be dried out, but if they are left untreated for too long, they will go mouldy and rot the floorboards beneath.
