Weather-proof your business against the winter.

Winter is soon on its way, bringing with it the prospect of strong winds, heavy rain, frost and snow. Are your business premises prepared for winter and are you adequately insured?

STORM DAMAGE

In recent years strong winds and rain have caused considerable damage to properties in the UK, quite often the damage can go unnoticed until it’s severe so check your property and outbuildings regularly for loose or missing roof tiles.

BURST PIPES

If you are closing up for the weekend or even longer during the holiday season, leave the heating on the lowest setting and check on a regular basis to avoid pipes freezing and potentially bursting. Other sensible precautions include lagging all pipes and tanks with insulation material and ensuring the boiler is annually maintained.

Stopcocks and valves should be clearly marked and accessible. If a pipe bursts, turn off the water supply and central heating system, and drain the system by turning on the cold taps.

FLOOD

Keep all valuable stock and important documents on a higher level, fit a flood alarm in vulnerable areas and install an electric sump pump in basement areas used for storage.
If you are concerned of flood risk to your business premises you can sign up to the Environment Agency’s ‘Floodline Warnings Direct’ service.

GARDENS AND WALKWAYS

Check trees for signs of weakness and breakages and remove branches that overhang your premises to avoid potential damage if they fall. Clear walkways of any potential risks and order grit to ensure pavements and pathways will be safe to use in the event of ice and snow.

BLOCKED DRAINS AND GUTTERS

Blocked gutters and drains are a major cause of water damage, ensure that they are clear or leaves, climbing plants, rubbish and dirt.

OIL STORAGE

You should always check for leaks and ensure that that your oil tank is secure before refilling it with oil. Check that your Insurance policy covers accidental loss of oil just in case something goes wrong.

Use the last days of autumn to carry out maintenance checks on your premises and tackle any minor problems before they turn into major ones. A little preparation now could save a lot of time and trouble later on. In particular, make sure you have the right level of insurance protection in place, providing cover for damage to buildings, contents and stock, business interruption and loss of earnings.

Please contact us for a free review of your Insurance policy and ensure you’re covered against winter problems.

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