Getting your home winter-ready: Aviva’s top tips

As the nights draw in and the mornings get crisper, getting your home ready for winter now could save you from the worry and inconvenience of unexpected problems in the colder months.

Laura Lazarus, head of home claims at Aviva, has put together her top tips for keeping you and your home protected from the worst of this winter’s weather.

1. Ready your roof:

Aviva’s own claims data reveals that almost a fifth (19%) of all UK home claims between 2020 and 2024 were related to storm damageⁱ. Before winds pick up, check your roof for loose, cracked, or broken tiles. Even one faulty tile could lead to water getting into your home if rainfall is heavy. If your roof looks like it needs some extra attention, get it fixed by a professional as soon as possible. 

Clearing out gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris can prevent water collecting and finding its way into your home. If you aren’t able to check you gutters yourself, find a professional to check things over for you.

2. Prepare your garden:

Make sure your garden furniture stays in your garden by securing any items that aren’t fixed or could easily blow away. Also, secure fences and gates, and tidy away any toys and ornaments if possible. Keep in mind that many home insurers don’t always cover damage to fences, gates, and hedges from storms, even if they are covered in other circumstances. Have a look round your garden for any potential trip hazards, such as loose slabs, that could be difficult to spot when covered in ice or snow.

3. Protect your pipes:

When temperatures plummet, pipes can freeze, causing significant water damage to your home if the expansion of ice causes them to burst. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to stop this happening. Start with insulating exposed pipes and your cold-water tank, including pipes in the loft and outside. As well as protecting your house from damage, insulating your pipes could potentially improve your energy efficiency. Try checking for leaky taps by turning them fully off. If they still drip, then get them repaired. Finally, make sure you know where your stopcock is in case the water needs turning off in an emergency. They are commonly found under the kitchen sink.

4. Heat your home safely

When you do decide the time is finally right to put the heating on, the last thing you would expect is for the boiler to fail, leaving you out in the cold. Arranging your annual boiler service before the weather turns chilly, especially if your boiler is older, will make sure you can stay warm from the first day of winter. Remember that boiler breakdown may not be covered under standard home insurance. If you are worried about keeping your heating up and running, consider getting an appropriate add-on to your home insurance or a separate boiler cover policy so you know you are covered if the boiler does pack up.

If you are using portable heaters or candles over winter, always keep an eye on them and keep them away from soft furnishings. Never leave them unattended. Or if you are looking forward to lighting your log burner or open fire this winter, don’t forget to get your chimney swept if needed. As always, make sure your fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tested and working.   

5. Be flood ready

Check your home’s flood risk using the Government’s flood risk checker. If your home is at risk, move valuables to a higher level, ideally upstairs, when heavy rain is forecasted. If flood water does get into your home, don’t touch any electrics as they may be dangerous. Contact your insurer as soon as possible – they are best placed to help manage your claim from start to finish.

Some of life’s events can’t be prevented, even if you have done your best in getting your home ready for winter. Give yourself total peace of mind by checking your home insurance has the correct cover for your needs. Look into arranging add-ons, such as home emergency cover, if you want some extra security this winter.  

Once you are happy with your cover, make a note of where your home insurance documents are, whether stored safely in your home or on your insurer’s app. No one wants the worst to happen, but it’s good to know what is and isn’t covered if you do need to make a claim.

Ticking these jobs off your list gives you the chance to relax knowing you and your home are ready for whatever winter has in store.

-ends-

References:

^{i. Aviva internal claims data for storm claims between January 2020 – September 2024}

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