Prevent damage to your home in autumn and winter with these 5 tips

The nuisance caused by heavy rainfall seems to be increasing, and extremely heavy downpours are becoming more frequent. In a short period of time, so much rain can fall that streets and homes can no longer drain the water away. Unfortunately, this means that water is increasingly finding its way indoors, resulting in damp spots on ceilings, wet plasterwork, or warped wooden floors. Rain is not the only cause of damage; heavy snowfall and even drifting snow can also create significant problems.

• Check your gutters and downpipes regularly, and remove leaves and other debris. If you prefer not to climb a high ladder yourself, consider having this done by a professional.

A loose roof tile, a fallen fence, or garden furniture that has suddenly ended up on the other side of your garden. Strong winds can cause significant damage, as can objects that are blown through the air.

• Check that your roof tiles are secure and prepare your garden for winter. Fasten loose items or store them away temporarily.

Not all water damage comes from outside the home. A lot can also go wrong indoors. Think of a clogged drain or a worn hose on a dishwasher or washing machine. This can happen at any time of the year, but during winter, pipes can also freeze, potentially causing significant damage.

• Check the hoses and connections of your appliances and make sure you know where the main water shut-off valve is located. That way, you can quickly turn off the water in the event of a leak. Also, shut off outdoor taps once temperatures drop below freezing.

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we tend to spend more time indoors creating a warm and cosy atmosphere. Candles and wood-burning stoves can provide both warmth and ambience. However, a knocked-over candle or a stove placed too close to combustible materials can create dangerous situations and even cause a fire.

• Extinguish candles whenever you leave the room, even for a short time, and keep flammable materials away from electric heaters and wood-burning stoves. Test your smoke alarms regularly.

You only need to check your energy provider’s app to see that electricity and gas consumption increase during autumn and winter. The heating is used more often, and chargers are plugged in throughout the house. During the holiday season, decorative lighting adds even more demand. Fortunately, this is usually not a problem, but an overloaded power strip or a damaged cable can create a safety hazard.

• Plug high-power appliances directly into a wall socket. When you take out your holiday decorations, inspect the cables and replace them if they are damaged, or even if you have any doubts about their condition.