‘Tis the season to be jolly but as the festivities get into full swing, it’s important to keep your home safe.
From the arrival of Christmas trees and decorations through to family gatherings and cold snaps, there’s potential for numerous hazards at this time of year. But the good news is that most mishaps can be easily avoided, so here’s our guide to minimising your risks and preventing a home insurance claim.
Fire hazards
As we fill our homes with Christmas decorations and lights, we also increase the risk of fire. Overloading plug sockets can cause them to overheat which can cause an electric shock, or a spark to fly.
Using extension leads to spread electrical use can help minimise the risk although you should check the lead’s rating before plugging appliances into it. As highlighted by Electrical Safety First, it’s possible to overload an extension lead by plugging in appliances that combined will exceed the stated maximum current
rating.
Make sure that your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Safety Standard (EN 60598) and are in good condition - a blown bulb can cause others to overheat. Even if you have high-quality, compliant lights, always turn them off overnight and when you go out.
Cooking under the influence of alcohol is another big fire risk as are unattended candles. According to recent research by Direct line, one in five of all house fires caused by candles occurs during December and almost half of these happen between Christmas and New Year.
Security hazards
The lure of Christmas presents is just one of the reasons why burglary claims peak at Christmas time with people seeking to cover the costs of stolen items and property damage. With many of us spending time away from home with family and friends, this can also create more opportunities for our homes to be targeted.
To minimise security risks, it’s advisable to keep presents in a place that can’t be seen from the window. The same principle applies to the packaging. Leaving empty boxes outside for high value items such as iPads and computers, are a great advert for potential thieves.
With so much activity happening around the Christmas period it can be easy to forget the obvious - remember always set your alarm and keep doors and windows locked when you go out. It’s also important to make your home look occupied, including keeping the lights on when you’re not there, and don’t announce that you’re out of the house or away from home via social media.
Weather hazards
The UK’s unpredictable winter weather, including excessive rain, snow and ice can lead to all sorts of property damage.
Frozen pipes are one of the most common issues which can burst and cause leaks. To prevent this, make sure that pipes and water tanks are well insulated, especially those in unheated areas, and that there are no gaps at bends, valves or fittings.
If you’re going away over Christmas, leave the heating on low and if you’re away for a long time, consider turning off the water supply and draining down the system.
A blocked gutter is another cause of water damage, so do some maintenance and ensure they’re free from leaves and other debris before the worst weather sets in.
A further winter risk is flood damage. If your home is at high risk of flooding, consider ‘resistance measures’, which can help keep water out of a property by blocking openings at ground level. There are also various flood protection products available such as door guards and airbrick covers.
What to do if the worst happens
If you do become a victim of a Christmas hazard, there is lots of help and support available.
If you need to claim on your insurance, contact Sarrani directly and our expert team can manage the entire process for you, ensuring your home or business premises is reinstated to the highest quality and with the least possible stress. We’ll liaise and negotiate with your insurer to make sure you receive everything you’re entitled to, including giving you access to a highly skilled loss assessor.
Furthermore, we offer a dedicated 24/7 emergency helpline, which is available every day of the year, and emergency fire, flood and plumbing services. Whether you’re a homeowner, tenant, landlord, letting agent or commercial property manager, these specialist services are designed to help no matter what time of day or night your emergency strikes. And we aim to be on site within 24 hours of you contacting us to ensure your home or business is back to normal as quickly as possible,
For further information on dealing with unexpected property damage over Christmas and insurance claims, please contact us on 020 3006 3126 or email our experts at info@sarrani.com.