Insurance
Cold weather alert: how to protect your home
All parts of the country are urged to take care as snow, ice and low temperatures are expected this week.
With energy costs already high, many may be worried about how they’ll be able to pay as the temperature plummets.
According to Comparethemarket, the average energy bill rose by over £240 to £1,625 in 2017, an increase of 14% on the previous year.
However, those on default standard variable tariffs will be paying more. The comparison site found that nearly a fifth of over 65s are on these expensive tariffs, equating to two million elderly people across the country.
If you’re on a provider’s default tariff, it’s important to remember that by comparing and switching to a new supplier, your energy won’t be cut off. You will continue to receive gas and electricity to your home. The energy switch process typically takes around four weeks, but can be sooner or later.
As well as reviewing your energy, you should also check your home to ensure it’s ready for the colder weather.
You should service your boiler by a professional (Gas Safe registered plumber) to avoid the chances of a sudden boiler breakdown, according to Policy Expert, as this could turn out to be an expensive ordeal.
Otherwise, here are Policy Expert’s top tips on protecting your home from winter weather: