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Cold & Snow

No one can stop the onset of winter, darker days, freezing temperatures, and sometimes even snow. However, if you follow these suggestions, you should be ready for it when it comes.

Discover tips below for when temperatures are low or it's snowing

Tips for your home

When temperatures are low

  • Leave the heat on ‘constant’ to ensure a temperature of at least 5oC throughout the property (including attic space).
  • Open your attic trap door to help keep the temperature in your attic the same as in the rest of the house and prevent pipes freezing.
  • Check for frozen/leaking pipes.
  • Lagging the attic pipes can save you a lot of trouble in cold weather, but if the worst happens and you think a pipe is frozen, simply turn off the water at the main ‘stopcock’ and open all the taps. Make sure your central heating boiler is turned off. Next, gently thaw the pipe using a hairdryer or hot water bottle. If there is no leak from the pipe after thawing, you can safely turn the water on again. If it does leak, turn off the electrical supply being careful not to touch any wet electrical fittings, and call Allianz Emergency Home Assistance.
  • Before winter starts, maybe even during summer, inspect windows and doors for drafts and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulk. This helps maintain indoor warmth and reduces heating costs.
  • Ensure your heating system is in good working order by scheduling regular maintenance with a qualified tradesperson.

When it's snowing

Clear snow as soon as possible
Check that all air vents are clear
Cordon off areas where snow is likely to fall from the roof

Check gutters, down pipes and drains, only if it's safe to do so

Tips for your car

  • The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out. 
  • Keep petrol/diesel tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines
  • Take off any snow from the roof to avoid it dropping onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision.

When driving in Ice & Snow

  • There are a couple of necessary checks all motorists should carry out:
  • Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass
  • It is crucial that window wipers are fully functional, both front and back!
  • It is advised that your tyres are the legal recommended thread depth. This will allow for better grip on the roads. If you are planning on driving frequently in the snow you should consider investing in a set of all weather or winter tyres for your car. Find here more information on the different tyres.   
  • If possible fill up on fuel before setting off on a journey. Between lights, air conditioning, and windscreen wipers fuel consumption is greatly increased.
  • Have the radiator system serviced, or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze, as needed.
  • Slow down and allow more space (8-10 seconds) between you and the car in front. Stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer in icy conditions. 
  • Use Higher Gears: When pulling away on a slippery surface, start in second gear to reduce the risk of spinning the wheels. It is important to manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking.

Driving in ice and snow greatly increases your chances of skidding. This happens to even the most experienced drivers. If you do find yourself skidding resist the instinct to slam on the brakes and follow a number of steps in order to avoid damage to your car or danger to yourself: 

  1. Ease off the accelerator
  2. Steer in the direction of the skid
  3. Avoid braking suddenly
Apply the brakes gently, and start slowing down well before junctions or turns.
This transparent, often invisible layer of ice can be especially hazardous. If you see a patch of road that looks glossy or unusually smooth, slow down and avoid sudden movements. 
Clean your lights regularly, as dirt and grime can reduce their effectiveness, especially in low visibility conditions.

Tips for your pet

  • It might sound obvious, but keeps pets warm during cold spells, ensure they have a warm, comfortable place to sleep. Consider adding extra blankets or a pet bed in a draft-free area.
  •  
  • During very cold weather, reduce the length of outdoor activities, rather than one long walk, maybe consider a few shorter ones.
  • Consider putting a coat on shorthaired or elderly dogs 
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  • Never let your pets drink from puddles in cold weather as there may be contaminated with toxic and icing fluids 
  • Check under the bonnet of your car for cats or other small animals sheltering from the cold. The warmth from the engine attracts them at night. 

Tips for your devices

Batteries
In very cold weather batteries discharge quicker, so try to keep your mobile phone close to your body beneath layers of clothing to help maintain its charge.
Laptop
Keep your laptop in an insulated bag to help preserve the battery charge.
Smartphone
If the weather is cold enough for gloves and you need to use a touch screen frequently consider stitching one fingertip on one hand with conductive thread. 

If you have an emergency

emergency home assistance

24/7 Emergency Home Assistance

If you have an emergency, Allianz are here 24/7 365 days a year to help and prevent any further damage to your home. Allianz are offering this market leading service to all Allianz direct home insurance customers as a standard benefit on their policy.  

breakdown assistance

Breakdown Assistance

For customers who have selected breakdown assistance, this service provides you with driveway and on-site roadside support in the event of a emergency. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information visit our Breakdown Assistance page.

Need to make a claim?

You can log a claim through MyAllianz (Allianz Direct Customers only) or you can also call us on 01 613 3990 and one of our experienced claims advisors will be on hand from 9am-5pm Mon-Fri