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Protect the home from cold winter weather

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

The signs are that the winter of 2010 is going to be cold…very cold! Some parts of the United Kingdom have had temperatures close to -20C and even the big cities have regularly dropped below freezing. With icy conditions and more snow on the way, are our homes a warm and safe place for us to hibernate this winter?

Insurance firms are warning that everyone needs to winter proof the home. An unwanted plumbing bill due to a burst pipe or a defunct boiler could not come at a worse time with Christmas just around the corner. Although many household insurance policies will provide cover for some damage caused by emergencies, everyone should have full protection against all potential winter hazards.

Not having cover for your heating and hot water boiler is nothing less than folly really. If the worst happens and the boiler is a write-off, it will take a substantial sum to replace the boiler, even a small breakdown will leave you with a cold and miserable house until you find a tradesman to cure the fault. Of course he will have to be paid too. Some insurers will include cover in a home insurance policy, paying for call-out charges, some labour costs, parts and materials. With others extra cover can be added to a policy which will pay for call-out charges, labour costs, parts and repair to the domestic heating or water system.

Check to see if the roof has any loose or missing tiles. If it does, get them fixed before the winter weather gets any worse. Make sure all the gutters are clear from any blockages. A build up of water on the roof can lead to leaks and may even cause damage to the structure of the property. It is also a good idea to check the seal around the windows and that the doors have no gaps.

Cold and icy weather means that there is a risk of pipes freezing, then bursting and flooding the home. This can be prevented by repairing any cracks which may let in cold air and insulating the pipes properly. Even something as simple as making sure that everyone in the home knows where the stopcock is so it can be turned off quickly in the event of an emergency can be vital.

Finally, make an emergency winter survival kit so that the household will be prepared if the worst happens. It is a good idea to have a torch, some candles, some blankets, tinned food and a first aid kit. Ensure everyone in the home knows where the kit is located. Always keep a copy of the household insuranceAll sizes Sweet Home #2 Flickr – Photo Sharing! policy to hand as well as a phone number for an emergency plumber and electrician.

Tags: cold winter weather, Home Insurance, household insurance
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Households need to look after expensive Christmas gifts

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

New Year’s Eve is generally considered to be the festive season’s worst day for burglaries. Homes are 25% more likely to be burgled on December 31st than on any other day of the year as thieves throughout the country take advantage of people who leave their homes unoccupied and full of expensive gifts received just a week before.

The cost of being burgled over the festive season will be much higher than on a normal day because of all the extra expensive items in their home. Homeowners should take extra security precautions over the Christmas and New Year period to make sure that their spirits are not dampened by a thief on the lookout for newly unwrapped items.

As millions prepare to hit the high street next month buying Christmas presents, insurers are warning that expensive electrical items will be high on a thief’s wish-list. Technology moves on quickly, items being bought as gifts include mobile phones, iPods/MP3 players, Sat-Nav systems, digital cameras, games consoles, laptops, LCD TVs, Pocket PCs/Blackberries. All are expensive and all are very easy to carry for unscrupulous thieves.

In the run up to Christmas, households should not leave the presents under the tree nor should they be hid in obvious places such as wardrobes, under the bed or in the shed.
Of course everyone would like to put the presents under the tree for Christmas Eve but before the big day make sure that they are hidden away somewhere safe and not in full view by anyone passing by.

The loft is a great hiding place for presents before Christmas as the average burglar will not have time to climb into the loft and it’s also a safe place to keep presents from excited children who are desperate to get a sneaky look at what they can expect on Christmas morning.

It is also a good idea to speak to the household insurance company whenever any expensive items are bought to have the policy updated. For example a new wide-screen television may bring the contents cover over the limit. Never discard whole boxes in the dustbin, as this will give a thief some clues about what they will find in the home. Instead why not take the box to the local recycling site. Anyone out and about on New Year’s Eve should leave some lights on and make sure all doors and windows are securely locked.

Tags: Home Insurance
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The laptop is a more popular choice by internet users

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Technology has taken giant steps forward in the 21^st century, with enhancements and changes constantly made to improve our modern communications systems. When a breakthrough is made in technology it only remains a breakthrough for a short time before further advancement is made. While both the laptop and the desktop are improved yearly, there is still a debate over which is better. Whichever one is bought, always inform the household insurance provider and have the policy updated.

Many believe that the laptop is the only winner as it is much more convenient and the desktop pales in comparison to its lighter, smaller, and more travel friendly counterpart. The choice over which is best will vary though with the needs of the user.

If the winner was based purely on convenience, the laptop would win hands down. A desktop can not really be picked up and taken anywhere. If access to the internet and email access is needed anywhere and everywhere then the laptop is best. It has very few leads and is wireless. Year on year laptops are getting smaller and more efficient, it is even possible to buy one that can fit in one hand! A desktop computer can take up a lot of room and even though they are also getting smaller each unit is individual, i.e. the hard drive, the monitor and the speakers. Whereas with a laptop, pretty much everything can be done as it is.

A laptop will only be as good as the life of its battery. Anyone who has been away and realised the battery level is getting low will know it is one of the downsides of a laptop. Some laptops will have a life only 4-5 hours. This is not a problem with a desktop as it will always be fully charged. The convenience of having a laptop on the train will not matter much if the battery is dead. When they first arrived a laptop was considered to be less powerful than a desktop, however that no longer applies. Today a laptop is excellent in the power department which means a faster, more efficient machine.

Anyone who does not like the wires and leads that are associated with the desktop computer should go for the convenience of the laptop. On the other hand, if the idea of spending less to get more appeals, and commuting is not done regularly then the desktop PC is the best choice.

Tags: Home Insurance, internet users
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The device loved by one and all

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

The kitchen is the heart of every home, or at least it is supposed to be. In these days most families lead busy lives. Usually all adult members of the family are working to contribute to the family budget, breakfasts and, for that matter, other meals are very often rushed affairs.

It is fortunate indeed that the kitchen therefore is full of labour and time saving devices. Indeed in the modern home, the vast majority of expensive items covered by household insurance can be found in the kitchen.

Perhaps the most popular device in the modern kitchen is the dishwasher. Mothers and wives may put more value on the washing machine and cooker but universally the dishwasher comes out on top. Children, teenagers, mothers and fathers can all put their dirty plates in the dishwasher, add a tablet, press a button and forget all about them.

The good news is a decent dishwasher is not that expensive. The Zanussi ZSF 2450 for example retails at about £270 and can be bought from most High Street Retailers. It can take enough crockery for 6 place settings yet is still compact and sleek looking.

The operation cycle is very quiet apart from the beginning and end when the water input and output is taking place and it can hold quite a few items for its size, including a various array of pans. It has programmes for delicates, eco function and intensive cleaning but the quick wash cycle that takes around 30 minutes should be sufficient for most washes. It has a very handy delay function and the salt and rinse aide indicators are very useful. The cutlery basket is removable to create even more room to clean bulky items.

This model seems to be really popular so you can purchase it on various sites online and the price does not seem to vary drastically, however, if you wish to buy it from more established retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Comet or John Lewis then it is about £30 more expensive but I guess you pay for the insurance and security of buying from a household name. Some companies will offer free delivery while others may offer a free extension to the product guarantee. Little extras such as these are worth looking around for.

Tags: household insurance
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Laptop that does a job home or away

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

These days most homes have a desktop computer, a great majority now have a laptop as well. They are ideal for children when studying as they can be used both at home and in college as they are easy to transport. Commuters also love them as it means they can work during their commute hence giving them the option of working fewer hours in the office.

Computers should always be protected by household insurance policies, but remember if they are taken away from the home then special clauses may come into play.

If you are looking for a small and light notebook, then the Advent 4489 could well be the answer. It is ideal for the traveller as it is super light weighing just 1.2 kg. It is slightly smaller than an A4 sheet of paper but has a 9 inch screen which is plenty big enough to enjoy videos or pictures.

The netbook is really easy to use, the keyboard is light and gentle on the fingers, yet big enough to use comfortably, the touchpad is responsive and accurate. Another big plus is that the Advent 4489 is energy efficient. If left unused for 15 minutes, it automatically shuts down but the information is readily available when switched back on.

One downside to Advent 4489 is that programmes cannot be played from CD or DVD without buying extra equipment, but its primary use is the internet and considering its price then that is acceptable. The battery supplied lasts just over two hours which is okay for short trips and it does recharge quite quickly. To make it the perfect travelling companion for any trip, higher capacity batteries can be purchased for around £30.

The Intel atom processor is 1.6GHz and comes with 512 MB of RAM, which is quite sufficient for the commuter working on office documents. Upgrades are available and are inexpensive if the computer is to be used for games etc.

Overall, I think at just over £200 the advent 4489 is great value and although it will never be a main computer it can certainly be used as a backup. It is a perfect train traveller.

The netbook is available at PC World and can be bought via the collect at store option.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance, Possessions Insurance
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First time buyers still wary of taking on debt

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

The percentage of the housing market occupied by first-time buyers went down to 34% in July; this represents a drop of 4% from the previous month and is at its lowest for three years, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

The CML says the reason for the drop is due to the increasing difficulty a first-time buyer has in getting a mortgage. Early this year the problems seemed to have eased but now loan criteria have tightened up meaning first-time buyers will have to find a deposit of 24%, an increase of 3% in April and May. Mortgage activity does generally drop in August because of the summer holidays, however this years decline is much larger than was expected. And the mini-housing boom of the past twelve months has slowly stopped, and is very unlikely to pick up before next year.

With cuts in the public sector, tax hikes and constant talk of a double-dip recession, buyers’ confidence is low. We should know better how the housing market is going to perform once the coalition government has announced their spending review, and it may be that many prospective buyers are waiting until the details are announced before deciding whether to take on more debt. It may mean renting and taking out household insurance for protection until the market picks up.

Howard Archer, of economists Global Insight, said “This mortgage data for July remains very low compared to long-term norms and does little to dilute suspicion that house prices will remain under pressure. It is also notable that mortgage approvals to first time buyers actually weakened in July, which suggests not only that they may be becoming more reluctant to move into the housing market in the current uncertain economic environment. It also suggests that first time buyers are finding it hard to get mortgages.”

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Contents Insurance, Home Insurance, household insurance
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A stone floor will need care and attention

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Imagine buying a new home that is protected by household insurance, and while in the process of removing some old carpet or lino, instead of finding a concrete floor underneath. You discover a hard stone tiled floor which is covered in dust and dirt. Restoring it to how it should be is going to take a lot of time, but doing it correctly could add value to the home.

If the lino was stuck down using vast amounts of glue, a scraper should be used carefully or even try using a heat gun to melt the glue. It is vital to take care of the tiles when scraping as it is easy to chip the floor if too much force is used. White spirit can be used to remove the last stubborn bits but this must be washed off straight away. Stone tiles are natural stone which have been taken from a quarry; they could be slate, granite or even marble. Stone tiles can withstand most punishments and will last a lifetime if looked after. Stone floors should be quite easy to keep clean and if they are looked after they are unlikely to stain very much.

The most damage to a stone floor is caused by sand, grit and dirt because of their abrasiveness. A stone floor needs to be dust mopped often using a clean, non-treated dry dust mop or brush. A vacuum cleaner is very helpful if it is in good condition and has nothing on it that will scratch the floor. Place mats/rugs by doors as these will help collect loose dirt before it has a chance to get on the stone floor, just make sure it has a non-slip surface and remember to shake them regularly to remove dirt. Always clean up any spills immediately using a neutral pH detergent or pure soap and warm water.

Do not use anything that contains vinegar, lemon juice, acids or any ammonia-based cleaners on a stone floor. These products will dull the look of the floor. Other good tips are, avoid using scouring powders, bathroom tile cleaners and do not mix bleach with ammonia as this will create a lethal and toxic gas. Take great care when moving any heavy objects across the stone floor to avoid making any scratches or chips. It may even be worth using protectors on any furniture to avoid any accidental damage.

Tags: Advice for Tenants, Home Insurance, Laminate Flooring, stone flooring
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An outside tap can be handy for the garden

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Fitting an outside tap to a property is always a good idea. Watering the garden and cleaning the car suddenly become so much easier. Some basic plumbing skills are needed for the task of fitting an outside tap but it can be accomplished with care. First job is to turn off the water supply. If there is an isolation valve on the cold water supply pipe, turn the valve off. If there is not, go to the main stopcock which is usually found in the kitchen. When the water supply is turned off, turn on the cold tap on your kitchen sink and run until the water stops and the system is drained.

To install a new tap you will need to drill a hole through the outside wall for the connecting pipe work. The easiest thing to do is to put the tap near an exposed cold water supply close to the sink in the kitchen. Make sure to position the tap at least 250mm above the damp-proof course and mark the screw holes for the tap.

A 15mm diameter pipe will be required to connect the tap to the properties cold water supply. The hole for this will need to be about 150mm above where the earlier marks were made indicating the position of the tap. A quick job to do before drilling the hole is to make a ‘sleeve’ for the pipe to run through using a piece of 22mm diameter plastic pipe. This ‘sleeve’ will stop the pipe rubbing and if the pipe does burst it will stop water leaking out of the hole and also avoid having to claim on any household insurance policy. It is time to drill the hole next and make sure that the hole is big enough to take the diameter of the ‘sleeve’.

Cut through the cold water pipe directly under the hole that has been made in the wall. Use a hacksaw for this job and then file the ends. A T-piece connector is going to be fitted so make sure enough of the pipe has been removed. Connect one end of a short piece of pipe to the T-piece connector and the other end will be connected to the isolation valve, this means that the water supply to the new outside tap can be cut off if and when required. When deciding on whether to use copper or plastic pipes it is worth remembering that copper looks the best out of the two but plastic is much easier to work with. It is also best to use either Push Fit or Compression connectors as they will not need any soldering.

Finally to attach the new tap, drill the holes for the outside tap’s wall plate, use some plugs and then screw the tap plate to the wall. Put some plastic clips on the pipes on the inside which will stop any vibrating. Use a sealant to seal around the pipe. Then turn the water supply back on and hopefully there will be no leaks. If there is no leak, then it is another job well done.

Tags: Garden, Home Insurance
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Easy ways to keep a bathroom free from germs

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

It is surprising how much time is spent in the bathroom. The average person can usually put up with a collection of dust under the bed. But a dirty/grimy bathroom is another matter. The bathroom should be cleaned at least once each week and even more if a large family or perhaps even pets are bathed in the family bathroom. Hard earned money is spent on household insurance, and keeping the property clean should be done regularly, this should apply even more so to the bathroom.

In today’s world most bathrooms are made of materials that are easy to keep clean so there should be no excuse. Make it a rule in the home to rinse out the bath or shower straight after use. Spraying some water from the shower head onto all interior surfaces, before lathering soap onto a damp sponge and swishing it around the tub or shower cubicle before finally rinsing does not take long and will help keep on top of the cleaning. Cast iron or steel baths can be cleaned the same way as an acrylic bath, but only use products recommended and a soft cloth. A good whirlpool or spa model are generally self-draining, but it is still important that the pipe works are cleaned out regularly. If this bath came with the house a good tip is to once a week fill the bath with water and add a cupful of a good cleaning agent, let this circulate for a couple of minutes, then empty the bath, refill with some clean water, allow this to circulate again for a couple of minutes, empty out and rinse.

A bathroom basin can be cleaned by using an all-purpose bathroom cleaner, followed by a wipe over with a damp cloth. Rinse the plug hole and buff to a shine. The same goes for the taps on the basin. A shower tray is no harder than cleaning the bath, again use an all-purpose bathroom cleaner, if the area of the house is a hard water area, use a lime-scale remover once a week. Cleaning a shower screen can be done much better if using a squidgy. This will help to remove the excess of water from the screen. Each week clean the screen with a solution made up of washing up liquid and use a soft cloth. Do not forget the hinges of the door as these can get really dirty. As for the shower head go either eco friendly and soak it in a solution of half distilled vinegar and half water for a few hours, then rinse thoroughly. Otherwise use a liquid descaler and an old toothbrush, but do a test first to check that the shower head will not get damaged by the chemicals.

Tags: Advice, cleaning tips, Home Insurance, household insurance
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The path to a better looking garden

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Any home looks better with a well presented garden, and a gravel path is an attractive addition, and done correctly will enhance kerb appeal to a property. Provided the area is flat it is a reasonably quick job to complete. It is also economical and, if a change of mind happens at a later date, it can be very easily changed. The main objective is to keep all the gravel in place with good edgings to avoid gravel spreading over the garden.

Suitable edgings for a gravel path would include bricks, treated timber or concrete kerbstones. However, if any plants are going to spread on to the gravel path, there is no point in spending a lot of money on the edging as it will be hidden. Remember when working outside to have all windows and doors locked as opportunist thieves in the area may mean a claim on the household insurance.

When choosing what type of gravel to use on the pathway, consider the drawbacks of using pea gravel or any other small sized stones. Smaller sized gravel does not stay together as well as larger stones and they will spread everywhere making it look unsightly. So it is always best to use larger gravel. First job is to mark out the position of the path, do this by using string and pegs. If enough space is available try and make the path wide enough for two people to pass each other. Use a spade to excavate the marked area to a depth of at least 4in, then the area will need levelling with a rake. A good idea at this point is to apply a liquid weed killer which will help make it harder for weeds to grow up through the gravel.

Next position the edging all along the side of the pathway, if using timber, screw them to some timber pegs inserted into the ground. Now place weed proof sheets along the floor of the trench and make sure to overlap the sheets where they join. Another option is to lay the sheets before fixing the timber edging so the sheets will cover the edge of the pathway as well. Next lay around 2in of hardcore onto the sheet surface which will create a good firm base for the gravel. Spread the hardcore as evenly as possible using a rake and then compact it all using a rammer. Place the gravel on top and rake evenly. Add extra gravel wherever it is required. After a few weeks more gravel may need to be added as the surface begins to settle.

Tags: gardening, Home Insurance
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