Advice to protect your home this winter

With winter upon us, many are looking towards home security and how they can protect their homes from burglaries.

Although the number of home break-ins has decreased due to lockdown, as over 200,000 reports of burglary or attempted burglary were reported to the police in 2020, it's still important to be vigilant when it comes to house-hold security.

The Office for National Statistics reported that the average cost of a home burglary is £3,000, so it's very important to reduce the threat to your property as much as possible. Luckily, there are many things you can do to protect your house and help deter thieves.

Tips on how to deter thieves from breaking into your home

Make it look as if someone is home

If your home is empty, try to make it appear as if someone is in. When leaving for extended periods of time, using smart lights or timers to make sure the lights turn on at regular intervals can be an effective deterrent for potential criminals. Leaving the radio on and making sure any mail doesn't pile up also adds to the illusion that someone is at home.

Install a security system

Installing a wireless security system is the most effective way to deter burglars. It's also reported that 63% of burglaries happen in homes without a basic security system.

Make sure the area around your house is well lit as this can scare off intruders. Motion sensor lights are great options to have dotted around your property. They're not only convenient for you but make it difficult for potential thieves.

Make sure to lock your door

Last but definitely not least, make sure you double check that your doors and windows are shut and locked. Although this may sound obvious, statistics released by the ONS show that 76% of home burglaries were accessed through a door and in 24% of the cases, the door was unlocked.

Avoid burst pipes

The average claim for burst pipe damage is between £6,500 and £7,500, according to the Association of British Insurers, and although water damage is usually covered by your buildings insurance, the disruption is better avoided in the first place.

While 'escape of water' can happen at any time of the year, winter poses additional threat. Generally, pipes that are exposed to outdoor temperatures and pipes that run along exterior walls with minimal lagging tend to freeze more easily.

Here are some of our top tips

• Lag pipes and water tanks in unheated interior areas, such as loft spaces and garages.
• Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat circulate.
• Consider wrapping vulnerable pipes in electric heat tape for extra lagging.
• Ensure there are no cracks or gaps around the pipes that enter your home, and fill any you find.
• Disconnect outdoor items such as hoses.
• Know where your stopcock is and make sure you can turn it off when necessary.
• Keep your heating on at regular intervals, and set it on a timer or leave it on low if you're going away over the Christmas period. If you are going away, ask someone like a friend or neighbour to periodically check the temperature in your home.
• Check that your boiler has been serviced.
• If your property is going to be unoccupied for longer periods, turn off the water at the stopcock and consider draining the system so there is no water left in the pipes.

If you find your pipes frozen, turn your water off at the main stopcock straight away. Check to see if any pipes have burst. If not, either wait for them to warm up or thaw them with a hairdryer on the lowest setting, hot water bottles or a towel soaked in hot water starting at the end nearest the tap.

If you find a burst pipe, turn your water off at the main stopcock and open all the taps to drain the system. Switch off central heating and any other water heating installations. If you are insured with A-Plan, contact us for advice, including arranging for professional repairs and how to go about making a claim on your home insurance.

If you would like any further information please call Countryside Alliance Insurance Services on 01234 233270.

The Countryside Alliance is an Introducer Appointed Representative of A-Plan Holdings, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A-Plan Holdings is permitted to use Countryside Alliance Insurance Services as a trading name and provides insurance services to Countryside Alliance members. A-Plan Holdings is registered in England and Wales under company registration number 750484. Registered Office: 2 Des Roches Square, Witney, OX28 4LE. Calls may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance purposes.