The most common winter household disasters

A British winter can be harsh and unforgiving. Winter’s harsh weather can wreak havoc on a home if you aren’t prepared. It’s always best to be proactive against winter rather than reactive. HAmag.co.uk hear from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), learning what the most common problems their builders have faced over the christmas period; keep an eye out for such problems within your own home!

According to a recent study, almost 90% of builders have been called out to fix leaking roofs, nearly half have been asked to fix burst pipes and a third have been asked to repair a broken boiler during the winter months.

The most common issues builders have been asked to deal with in and around Christmas are as follows:

• 86% of builders have dealt with leaking roofs
• 74% of builders have fixed leaks from defective lead flashings and apron to chimney stack
• 51% of builders have repaired damage caused to the property because of blocked gutters
• 47% of builders have dealt with leaking windows
• 44% of builders have dealt with burst pipes
• 37% of builders have dealt with leaking doors
• 33% of builders have arranged for a broken boiler to be fixed
• 29% of builders have fixed damage caused to the property by falling branches from trees
• 24% of builders have arranged for electrical wiring to be fixed

Commenting on the research, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “The winter period is a busy time for builders. They are regularly called out to fix leaks, burst pipes and broken boilers over the Christmas period, with leaking roofs topping the list. Almost 90% of firms have been called to fix leaky roofs, nearly half have been asked to fix burst pipes and a third have had to repair a broken boiler. Christmas is a costly time of year and the last thing homeowners want to spend their money on is emergency home improvement work. To prevent these issues from occurring homeowners should carry out a simple programme of maintenance. Boilers should be serviced and checked to avoid any breakdowns. If you’re going away in winter it’s a good idea to leave the heating on low to prevent pipes from bursting in cold weather. And finally don’t forget to check the roof for any loose tiles or slates to avoid a leaking roof.”