Temperatures can drop to minus degrees during the winter and this isn’t good news for your pipes, as they can freeze and sometimes burst.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) recently said that the insurance industry received 190,000 claims this winter which related to property damage at a cost of £900m; 103,000 of these being due to burst pipe damage.

To avoid damage being caused in your home due to burst pipes, follow these simple care tips:

• Find your stopcock

  Do you know where your stopcock is?  Check that you can turn it off easily in an emergency.

• Maintenance: Do you have a dripping tap?  It’s likely that the washer needs replacing. Don’t delay – get this done today!  If not, the tap could freeze and block your pipes.

• Insulation: Insulate your loft and the sides of your water tanks. If in doubt, always contact a professional who can carry out this task for you.

• Keep warm: In cold weather, leave your heating on a low setting.

And if your pipes freeze, don’t panic.  Turn off your stopcock and contact an emergency plumber to get the problem sorted quickly and safely.

New Year is a great time to take a look at your home and find ways to save energy – one resolution that will ultimately save money too!

Follow these useful energy saving tips and see where you can instantly save money.

• Energy- Saving Light
  bulbs -the easiest energy saving tip!Switch all your bulbs to energy saving ones.

• Fix Leaky Taps & Pipes – wasting water is not only bad for your bills but bad for the environment too.Leaking taps can also cause pipes to freeze in winter temperatures, so fixing your drips should always be essential winter maintenance.

• Electrical Appliances – make sure these are running efficiently as possible; make sure you fill up the dishwasher or washing machine rather than wasting energy on small loads.

• Boiler – Is your boiler running efficiently? Do you get your boiler serviced annually? Making sure your boiler is efficient could dramatically reduce your heating bills.

• Insulation – this is an investment but will reduce your heating bills in the long term.

With this Winter set to see temperatures of -10 degrees, is your home prepared for the freezing conditions?

Here are our top ten tips to help prepare your home for Winter:

Top Tip Number 1: Roofs – Look up at your roof from ground level and also inspect through your loft hatch to see if daylight penetrates – if you can see daylight it could mean that your roof is damaged.

Top Tip Number 2: Gutters. Cleaning out gutters is the most basic of tasks yet is often neglected with sometimes devastating consequences.  Check your gutters to make sure there are no blockages!

Top Tip Number 3: Avoid any build-up of earth at the base of walls which may breach a damp proof course. Garden plants often enhance buildings, but consider control or removal if they are damaging walls or blocking gutters.

Top Tip Number 4: Rain Water Pipes. Check rain water pipes for blockages and leaks.

Top Tip Number 5: Services. Check water and heating systems for leaks, and ensure pipes are lagged to avoid bursts in winter. Make sure electrical and gas installations are regularly inspected, and that chimney flues are safe and clear.

Top Tips Number 6&7: Windows & Doors. If your windows and doors are made of timber they need painting every three to five years.

Top Tip Number 8: Chimneys.  Leaning chimneys or pots may need attention, seek expert advice!

Top Tip Number 9: Valleys / Flat Roofs. Holes in valleys or flat roofs may not be obvious but often produce signs of dampness on internal walls.

Top Tip Number 10: Safety.   The most important tip from us is to employ a reputable builder if you are in any doubt about carrying out maintenance work.