Are you lucky enough to be escaping the winter weather on a sun holiday or hitting the slopes for some downhill fun? You will enjoy your trip more, knowing your home is safe and secure while away.
Your home is more vulnerable to burglaries, storms and freezing temperatures in December and January. But there are numerous steps you can take to minimise the risk.
Ensuring your home is safe while enjoying winter holidays is paramount. At 123.ie, we understand the importance of peace of mind, so our home insurance policies are designed to protect your home against burglaries, adverse weather conditions, and other risks.
1. Make Your Home Safe for Winter Holidays
Ensure your home is ‘winter-proof’ well before you leave. Harsh winter weather can cause damage to your home. The outside of a house takes a battering in the winter, so a realistic, 360-degree assessment of its current condition is advisable – think roof, walls, floors, windows and doors and repair, seal or insulate where possible.
Preventing Burst Pipes
Burst pipes are one of the most common occurrences during a winter freeze. You can minimise this risk by heating up for an hour or two daily.
Although you may be tempted to turn the heating right down to save money, the Red Cross recommends going no lower than 13 degrees Celsius. Insulating pipes with particular products, such as heat tape, is also advisable. Even protecting them with newspapers can help prevent them from freezing.
Water System Maintenance
Another option is to drain the water system before you go away. To do this, turn off the main valve and run every hot and cold water fixture until it stops.
If in doubt, consult a qualified plumber.
Checking for Damage and Preparing for Flooding
Check pipes for any damage or cracks. Clean out gutters and drains of dead leaves, and repair any loose or damaged roof tiles. Loose tiles can cause much damage during a storm. If your home is at risk of flooding, protect against floods as much as possible before you go away.
2. Secure Your Home against Burglaries
According to the Garda Síochána, burglars tend to exploit the reduced hours of daylight experienced in Ireland during winter. Historically, burglaries rise by 20% during cold winter months.
The Garda notes that the most common points of entry by burglars are front door (29%), rear window (26%), back door (22%) and that 20% of burglaries take place through an unsecured door or window.
How to Reduce the Risk of Burglary
There are ways to significantly reduce your risk of being broken into. Given that burglary as a crime is opportunistic in its nature. Small steps to make a home safe can deliver powerful deterrents, for example:
- Fit your front and back doors with a secure Chubb lock and deadlock, and put a cage around your letter box to stop ‘fishing’ for keys.
- Never leave the keys of a door in the lock.
- Lock your garden shed very securely and lock any bikes inside to each other.
- Never leave shovels and other garden tools in your garden – they can be used to force entry into doors and windows.
- Motion sensors and external security lights can also be excellent deterrents.
3. Maintaining Security and Safety While Away
Don’t leave your garden furniture unsecured in your garden. Aside from the fact that it might be stolen, it could cause damage by being blown around during a storm.
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Winter Holiday Precautions
If you are going on holiday before Christmas, don’t leave presents under the tree – if they’re still there after the 25th, it will be a dead giveaway to burglars. Don’t display a calendar in the kitchen that circles the dates when you’re going to be away.
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Simulate Occupancy
Try and make it look like the house is still occupied. Get a timer for your lights and set them on in the evening. Cancel any deliveries and ask a local friend or neighbour to park in your driveway.
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Protect Electrical Devices
Plug out electrical appliances so that if there is a power surge (common after an outage), your Smart TV or PC won’t get damaged.
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Final Security Checks
Before you leave for the winter holidays, check all windows and external doors and ensure they are all locked and the keys are not in the lock. Don’t forget to switch on your alarm, relax, and enjoy your trip!
