Help your customers be ready for the cold weather

Icy conditions, freezing temperatures and heavy snow can all disrupt our day-to-day routines as conditions worsen on the roads. Winter weather also has the potential to cause big problems in the form of frozen pipes and flooding.

For commercial lines, take a look at our detailed guidance to help businesses manage their risks.

To assist your personal lines customers in safeguarding their homes and belongings we’ve put together some tips to help your customers avoid the worst this winter.

Protecting the home

When the snowy and icy weather shows up, many parts of the home could be sensitive to the sudden drop in temperature. It’s important to keep an eye on plumbing and heating as the weather starts to change, so they’re not left without heat and running water when they need it the most.

Here are some simple ways to keep plumbing and heating running smoothly:

• Lag pipes to keep them insulated and avoid freezing
• Keep heating on at a low level when away to avoid frozen pipes
• Let warm air flow throughout the home to reach colder areas where pipes might sit, such as unheated lofts or cupboards
• Turn off outside taps
• Turn off the water supply when away
• Repair any dripping taps straight away to avoid freezing and further damage

Dealing with frozen pipes

Do your customers know what to do if their pipes freeze? Even with preparation, it could still happen in sub-zero temperatures. If they discover a frozen pipe, here’s how they can avoid further damage:

• Turn off the water supply
• Locate the freeze
• Thaw the tap slowly

Dealing with burst pipes

Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes if not treated properly – leaving your plumbing out of action while your customers wait for repairs. It’s important to know what to do as soon as they find a burst pipe to avoid any further damage to the home. Here are our top tips:

• Turn off the water supply
• Run cold taps until they stop to drain the system
• If wet, turn off the electrics and call an electrician
• Soak up as much water as they can around the house
• Call their insurer to make a claim and get advice

Staying dry

As well as snow and ice, it’s also important to be prepared for potential flooding during the winter. If your customers live in a high-risk area and don’t plan ahead, extreme wet weather could cause big problems in the colder months. To help prepare their home for flooding this winter, take a look at our flood risk guidance.

Stay safe on the roads

Icy roads, heavy rain, low sun and shorter days make driving more difficult in the winter. Staying safe on the roads in the colder, darker months is important to avoid accidents and keep your vehicles in working order.

To keep your customers safe and their vehicles running this winter, we recommend:

• Planning journeys
• Allowing for longer drive times
• Increasing the distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front
• Driving smoothly without sudden braking or acceleration
• Using the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin but keeping an eye on speed
• Being aware of invisible ice on the roads
• If they’re driving an automatic vehicle, they may have a ‘snow mode’ or 'winter mode' that can help improve traction and control on slippery roads. They should check the vehicle's manual for details.

You can get more advice on driving in adverse weather here.

Making a claim

You can notify claims online through our broker website – potentially saving time and allowing you to report a Motor or Property claim 24/7, 365 days a year. If you’ve not used it yet, it’s simple to register. Just log in to the Aviva Broker website, select the Claims tab and click ‘Request access’.
 

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