How to prevent domestic disasters this Christmas

Christmas is nearly here, and it is supposedly the season to be merry. But what happens if something goes wrong?

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen, but it’s a good idea to be prepared so that if you are faced with some kind of domestic disaster this Christmas, you will know what to do. Loans 2 Go has published various articles advising you what to do in the event of a domestic disaster. In this article we revisit a few domestic disasters that could make things go wrong at Christmas. We give some useful tips on how to prevent them from happening, and explain how to cope should the worst happen.

Your boiler breaks down

• Tips to prevent a boiler breakdown happening

The main thing you can do to prevent a boiler breakdown happening is to ensure that it is serviced regularly, ideally in September/October so that any issues can be sorted before Christmas. A service by a qualified engineer can check that everything is working as it should be and also that the components are all clean and in the best possible condition.  

Once the heating is turned on for winter, also check whether your radiators need bleeding. For example if their temperature varies from top to bottom it could mean that air is trapped in the system which will put strain on your boiler. 

And if there is anything you are concerned about, always get it checked. For example clunking noises, cracks, black soot or a boiler flame that is dull or smoky rather than clear blue. Taking action as soon as you spot a problem is far better than leaving it to get worse.

• What to do if it does happen

It’s a good idea to have some back up heating available for immediate help in the event of a boiler breakdown, for example portable electric heaters. And you may need to resort to boiling kettles for hot water. But all of these measures should only be seen as a temporary solution as they are very expensive.

The first thing to do is check if you have home insurance, and whether it covers boiler breakdown. There may be an emergency call out service that can help. But if not, then you need to find a local plumber or boiler engineer to come as soon as possible. This is likely to be difficult over the Christmas period and they may charge an extra call out fee over the holiday season. If you need help with the cost, remember that Loans 2 Go offer emergency loans that may be able to help.

For further help, see our article Boiler breakdown advice.

Your fridge stops working

• Tips to prevent a fridge breakdown happening

The main thing to do to prevent a fridge breakdown is to keep it clean and in good condition. This includes the door seals, and also the condenser coils. These are usually located at the bottom of the back of your fridge and tend to get very dusty, which can interfere with the performance of your fridge.

It’s also a good idea to keep your fridge full as this enables it to work more efficiently. Cool foods and drinks help to absorb any warm air that enters the fridge when you open the door. Even if your fridge is beginning to get empty you can fill the gaps with jugs of water.

• What to do if it does happen

The good news is that if your fridge breaks down, food will be safe for at least 4 hours as long as you keep the doors closed. This could give you time to either cook as much of the food as possible, or see if friends and neighbours can help by storing refrigerated food for you.

Also check your home insurance policy as many standard home insurance policies cover fridge freezer contents, so even if food is spoiled you may be able to claim money back for this.

As for the fridge itself, it is always worth taking a look at the instructions and the fridge to see if the problem is anything obvious. It may just be a case of a part needing to be replaced that you could sort out yourself. However, if in doubt, always seek professional help.

For further help, see our article Dealing with a broken fridge.

Your home is burgled

• Tips to prevent a burglary happening

Police advice is firstly to make your home as visible as possible from the front so that there are no easy ways for burglars to get in without someone noticing. For example, having lower fences at the front rather than high fences so there is no cover for anyone wishing to hide.

Also find ways to limit easy access to other possible entry points of your home, such as high fencing at the rear and sides, supplemented with thorny plants, or anti-climb topping such as plastic spikes. Gravel driveways and paths can also make it difficult for anyone to approach without being heard.

And of course you may want to invest in some kind of alarm system, CCTV, security lighting, ring doorbell etc. Every little helps, both as a deterrent and also potentially helping to identify anyone who may be trying to break into your home. It could be worth taking out a small personal loan to get these security measures in place and have peace of mind about your home.

If you have extra items in your home over Christmas, for example expensive gifts under the tree, it is worth checking with your home insurance to make sure that they are covered in the event of theft.

• What to do if it does happen

The main two people to contact if you are burgled are the police and your home insurance company. It’s also a good idea to make notes immediately of items that are missing and likely timing of the burglary, but also anything at all that seems relevant such as suspicious events beforehand. You may want to take photos of damage for use later with your insurance company.

If bank cards or credit cards have gone missing you need to cancel these as soon as you can. You may also want to change the locks on your home and car if any keys have gone missing.

For further help, see our article Dealing with a burglary.

Your car breaks down or you have a car accident

• Tips to prevent a car breakdown or accident happening

The main way to prevent a car breakdown is to make sure that everything is in as good a condition as it can be, especially if you are setting off on a long trip. If your car needs a service, get this done before you go. But if it’s in between services, take time to check that your car is ready to hit the road.

A very helpful acronym, devised by the RAC, is FORCES:

• Fuel – check you have enough fuel or electric charge for your journey;
• Oil – check the oil level and top up as needed;
• Rubber – check condition of tyres and wiper blades;
• Coolant – check levels of water and antifreeze in your radiator;
• Electrics – make sure lights are working and battery is performing fully; 
• Screenwash – top up windscreen washer fluid with good quality screenwash.

To avoid accidents, do all that you can to drive carefully and mindfully of other drivers. Even though this won’t guarantee an accident not happening it can make a significant difference.

• What to do if it does happen

As a general rule, if your car breaks down or you have an accident, move it off the road if at all possible, and get everyone out if it is safe to do so. You then need to contact your breakdown service if you have one. If not, you may be able to join a service such as the RAC or AA instantly by phone. Otherwise you will need to start phoning local garages for help.

In the case of an accident you also need to call the police within 24 hours on101. But if the accident is serious or is causing obstruction, or if another driver is becoming aggressive, call 999 immediately. If there are people injured you also need to call for an ambulance.

If one or more other vehicles have been involved in the accident you also need to exchange details with the drivers of your insurers, and get details of any witnesses if there are any. You need to report your accident to your insurers within 24 hours even if you don’t intend to make an insurance claim, in case your accident makes a difference to your insurance premium. 

For further help, see our articles What to do if your car breaks down and What to do in a car accident.

We hope that this article has given you some useful information on how to deal with domestic disasters over the Christmas period. And we hope that none of them happen to you or your family. But if they do, and you need some extra cash to get through them, remember that Loans 2 Go offer emergency loans that may be able to help.

For more useful lifestyle and financial tips, visit us here again soon at Loans 2 Go.