When the days start to get shorter and colder, it’s a good time to check your park home is ready to protect you from the wind and rain so you stay warm in the winter. Towergate Insurance has produced a guide to help ensure your park home is prepared for the cold weather…

Keep your pipes cosy
Pipes bursting during winter are common, as swift freezing and thawing can potentially cause cracking and breaking. This can be prevented best by keeping your pipes warm with their own foam cardigan (called lagging), which will reduce the heat lost and insulate the pipes to prevent freezing.

Get your boiler checked
If your boiler is not maintained correctly, you could be wasting energy as well as money. Incorrect maintenance also runs the risk of your boiler leaking carbon monoxide. It is important to get your boiler serviced before winter as it could stop working if it is not maintained, leaving you without heating and with an unexpected bill for a new model.

Your park home insurance
Check your park home insurance policy is all up to date and that you’re covered for winter-related damages. It’s worth noting that wear and tear is not covered by most insurance policies, therefore it is important to ensure that your park home is well maintained especially in the lead up to winter when frost damage is more likely. Fully understanding your policy will help to give you peace of mind this winter.

Insulation
Around 25 per cent of the heat in your park home is lost through the roof and walls, so ensure they are fully insulated to use less energy and keep your park home warm. Insulation needn’t be a vast cost, as there are many government grants and schemes for insulation installation.

Bleed the radiators
When your radiators are colder at the top than at the bottom, they have air trapped inside that’s stopping the heat from circulating correctly. It’s a good idea to bleed the radiators, to release the trapped air, allowing your radiator to run more efficiently. If you’re not sure you might be able to get help from your park’s maintenance team.

Read the full article in the November 2019 issue of Park Home & Holiday Caravan