Protect your business this winter
20 December 2021 Reading time: 4 minutes
For many businesses, the run up to Christmas can be the busiest time of the year. Regardless of the size or nature of your business, we encourage all of our customers to be prepared for the winter months to avoid frozen and potentially burst water pipes.
We’ve set out our 12 top tips to protect your business this winter and following these simple steps could save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
1. Know your water system: If you’re faced with an emergency, knowing your business’ water infrastructure could make a huge difference in a crisis. If you’re not sure how to get this information, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
2. Create a contingency plan: Prepare for the worst-case scenario and create an easy to follow contingency plan that colleagues and suppliers are aware of. If you already have a plan, then ensure it is still suitable and considers any relevant changes to your business.
3. Make sure you’re insured: If your business is water damaged, one of your first questions is likely to be “does my insurance cover this?”. The answer will depend on the cause of the damage and the exact business water damage insurance you hold as well as related policies. Review your policies to ensure you’ve got the right cover in place.
4. Check your building for any signs of weakness: Check for any minor repairs which may need to be carried out before the cold weather strikes. Although this can seem time-consuming and unnecessary, preventative repairs in advance of potentially bad weather will save you money in the long term.
5. Keep the heating on low: Even if your premises isn’t being used over the festive season, leave heating on at a low temperature, and ensure heaters are well maintained and working properly throughout the festive period. Alternatively, you could drain your pipes instead.
6. Secure valuable documents: If you’re locking up for Christmas, New Year or any other period during the winter months, ask colleagues to store important documents and electronic equipment in a safe and secure place, which is ideally water tight should you experience a frozen or burst pipe.
7. Know what to do if your pipes freeze: Follow our step by step guide which tells you exactly what to do in the event of a frozen pipe this winter.
8. Check for leaks: An undetected leak could be costing your business thousands of pounds a year, and could lead to a burst pipe over winter. You can follow our simple steps on how to check for leaks to help you identify and fix the issue quickly, before it’s too late.
9. Pick a plumber: In an emergency, act straight away and don’t delay. For any leaks within your premises, it’s best to contact a local plumber first.
10. Check your insulation: Ensure you have good pipe insulation before the cold weather hits. Exposed pipes are the first to freeze and can cause bursts. A cheap and simple option is to pad and insulate them to help keep the chill out.
11. Prepare for the worst: Did you know you can subscribe to free winter alerts through The Met Office who will email you when the temperature drops in your area? Visit metoffice.gov.uk.
12. Be contactable: Make sure your business contact details are up to date and accessible to anyone who might need them over the winter period. Similarly, make sure colleagues have emergency contact details of plumbers and senior staff so they can be alerted in the event that a burst pipe does occur.
By following even a few of our top tips, you’ll help ensure your business is well prepared for the winter months, and potentially save your business time and money by avoiding burst pipes.
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