With the cost of living at its highest in a decade, and over 22 million people affected by the recent increase in household energy bills, it’s more important than ever to save money where you can.

We know it’s not always easy to make change – especially when they cost money – so we’ve put together some ideas to help.

Quick wins

None of these ideas will cost you any money but will help you save both energy and money in the long run.

• Turn off your lights while they’re not in use and save around £20 a year
• Filling your kettle with only the water you need to save you £11 a year
• Reducing your washing machine usage by 1 run a week and using a 30°C cycle could save you around £28 a year and avoiding tumble dryer usage wherever possible can save £60 a year
• Run your dishwasher only when completely full to reduce the amount of water you use and cut down by one run a week and you’ll save £14
• Switch your appliances off – don’t leave them in standby mode – and you’ll save approximately £55 a year
• Turn your thermostat down by one degree and you’ll save £105 a year (be sure your home is warm enough during cold weather though, especially if you have young or vulnerable people living there)
• Spend one less minute in the shower each day and save £75 a year on your bills (plus an extra £60 if your water is metered)
• Ditch the bath: based on a family of 4, if you each replaced 1 bath a week with a 5-minute shower, you’ll save up to £20 a year on gas and water bills

Total potential savings = £448

Small initial cost

If you’ve worked your way through the above list and can afford to spend a little money to save more, you can:

• Replace your lightbulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. These use around 90% less energy than a traditional lightbulb and can last up to 30 years, saving you around £55 a year on average
• Draught-proof your windows, doors and chimneys. The cheapest way to do this is with draft excluders which start at around £10 and can save you up to £65 a year
• Swap out your showerhead for a water-efficient one from around £5.99. This can save you up to £55 on your gas bill and £45 on your water bill
• Fit an aerator onto your kitchen tap: this will reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting how it washes. These cost from around £5.00 and could save you £25 a year

Total potential savings = £245

Bigger initial cost

We know the below suggestions won’t be an option for everyone but if you can, they’re worth keeping in mind when making any major home improvements.

• Installing heating controls/thermostatic radiator valves: these will ensure you’re only heating the rooms you need to and can even learn your habits and adjust your heating accordingly. You can expect to pay around £600 for full installation in an average semi-detached home, and you’ll save £130 a year – you’ll get your money back in less than five years
• Replace your boiler: if your boiler is over 10 years old, it may be time to start thinking about swapping to an A-rated replacement. You could save around £200 a year on your energy bills

Total potential savings: £330

Check what benefits you’re entitled to

• Cold Weather Payment: you may qualify for this if you’re getting certain benefits and would receive a payment for each 7-day period of very cold weather (0°C or below) between 1 November and 31 March
• Winter Fuel Payment: you may qualify for this if you’re on certain benefits or born before 26 September 1955 and could mean you get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills
• You can also find impartial advice for reducing your energy bills and along with details of home energy grants you may be eligible for on the government’s Simple Energy Advice website

To find out more about our Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as plumbing and drainage insurance and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

*figures from energysavingtrust.org.uk

If you’re planning to go on holiday, it’s wise to have a plan to keep your home running smoothly and safely while you’re away.

Follow our simple checklist below:

Check your heating

If your house is going to empty while you’re away, you don’t need to keep it warm. However, it’s worth setting your heating to come on for an hour or so each day, to keep your boiler working at its best. If the weather’s likely to be colder while you’re away, set it for a few hours overnight.

Check as well to make sure none of your radiators has any leaks and make sure your taps, bath, shower, and toilet are okay too. The last thing you want is to come home to a flooded house!

Prepare your appliances

Unplug any appliances you can to help reduce your energy usage while you’re away; even one television per household left on standby adds up to £432 million of electricity across the UK each year*. This also reduces the fire risk of leaving these items plugged in and unattended.

Make sure you empty the washing machine; clothes left in there for even just a few days will start to smell.

Fill and empty your dishwasher too, and wash anything you use the morning you go away. Used cups and dishes will not only start to smell but will be harder to clean if left for too long.

Secure your home

Before you go, check all your doors and windows close properly and make sure they’re securely locked when you leave. If you’re worried, leave a family member or friend a set of keys to check your property once you’ve left.

Other things you can do to protect your home are:

• Setting your lights on a timer: this is an easy way of making it look like your home is occupied.
• Lock up as well as your home, make sure any other buildings on your property, such as garages, conservatories and sheds are locked and that all garden furniture and tools are also locked away.

Before you go is a great time to get those little DIY jobs sorted – now’s the time to sort that sticking lock or window that won’t shut properly.

To find out more about our Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as plumbing and drainage insurance and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

*according to research by Utilita

Not only can your washing machine be expensive to repair or replace if they go wrong, but its inconvenient too!

If your manufacturer’s warranty has run out, you can take out Washing Machine Cover with Home Emergency Assist to ensure you’re not left without your appliance for long periods of time.

What is washing machine insurance?

It’s a type of home appliance cover that covers the cost of engineer call-out charges, repairs, parts or a replacement if your appliance breaks down.

Washing machine insurance can cover the gap between your appliance warranty and your home contents insurance, providing cover if your appliance breaks down due to electrical or mechanical faults. Commonly, home contents insurance will only allow you to claim for accidental damage or theft.

What are the benefits?

Most warranties last for a year (unless you pay for an extended warranty), after which you will no longer benefit from free repairs or replacement, if your appliance breaks down.

With Appliance Insurance, rather than having to organise repairs for yourself, you can ring our dedicated claims line, or fill out the 24/7 online claim form. We’ll then send out a fully qualified engineer from our UK-wide network to fix your washing machine.

If your appliance is under 5 years old and is declared beyond economical repair (it will cost more to repair than to replace), we’ll replace your washing machine.

If your appliance is over 5 years old but under 10 and declared beyond economical repair, we’ll make a contribution towards the cost of a replacement. This contribution depends on the age of the appliance.

Washing machine insurance with Home Emergency Assist

When you take out appliance cover with us, you’ll benefit from:

• Mechanical breakdown cover
• Electrical breakdown cover
• Accidental damage cover
• Unlimited claims, up to a total value of £2,500 each year
• Access to a UK-wide network of engineers

You’ll also be able to cover up to 10 of your most important kitchen appliances on one plan. Cover your;

• Washing machine
• Tumble dryer
• Washer/Dryer
• Fridge-freezer
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Microwave
• Oven/Cooker
• Hob
• Extractor fan/hood
• Dishwasher
• Wine cooler

To find out more about our home appliances cover or other types of home care cover plans such as Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance and plumbing and drainage insurance, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

Every April, The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) run a campaign to encourage people to register their home appliances with the aim of improving ownership data in the event a safety repair is needed.

They’ve created a web portal, offering owners a simple way to register all of the appliances they’ve purchased in the last twelve years. The portal gives you access to the product registration pages of over 60 brands of domestic appliances, including most of the UK’s top selling brands of white goods.

A YouGov survey carried out by AMDEA in December 2018 found that, of 170 million white goods in use in UK homes, less than a third (31%) are registered. This means owners are leaving themselves untraceable if a recall is needed.

In a small number of cases, manufacturers may identify problems with an appliance once you’ve had it for some time. They’ll need to contact you to get the fault corrected as quickly as possible; and in most cases, a quick in-home fix by a qualified technician will remove any risk. It can be difficult for manufacturers to trace customers if the appliance is not registered.

To register your appliance

In order to register your appliance, you’ll need:

• The brand: you can click on a logo or search for the brand name
• Model name: this can be a name or number
• Serial number: this is normally between 10 and 16 digits and is displayed on a plate on the appliance
• Purchase data: if you don’t remember exactly when you purchased your appliance, the approximate day, month and year will be okay

Appliance Insurance

When you take out Appliance Cover with Home Emergency Assist, we’ll also ask you to register your appliance with us. You can do this over the phone or on our dedicated registration webpage.

Please note, your cover won’t start until 28 days after you’ve registered your appliance(s) with us, so it’s important to do this as soon as possible to ensure you’re covered in the event of a mechanical/electrical breakdown or accidental damage.

You’ll still need to register your appliance with the manufacturer to be alerted to any faults or product recalls. In this case, it wouldn’t be covered under your appliance insurance plan – you’d need to follow the guidelines issued by the product manufacturer.

To find out more about our home appliances cover or other types of home care cover plans such as Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance and plumbing and drainage insurance, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

All central heating systems will need a powerflush at some point in their lifespan as it’s easy for sludge, rust and debris to build up in the pipes and radiators. If left untreated, these will slow down the efficiency of your system and stop heat flowing evenly throughout your home, leaving some rooms colder than others.

In these cases, powerflushing may be the only solution (and it’s generally recommended where you may be installing a new boiler into an old central heating system). Depending on its age, if your system has never had a powerflush, the chances are that you will probably need one especially if you find yourself having to bleed your radiators on a regular basis.

How do I know when I need a powerflush?

• Rooms take a long time to warm up
• Some rooms are warmer than others
• Radiators need frequent bleeding (should only need doing a couple of times a year)
• Cold spots on radiators, even after bleeding
• Boiler keeps cutting out/making excessive noise
• Discoloured water after bleeding
• Cloudy tap water

How do I prevent sludge?

You may be able to avoid the need for a powerflush by getting a magnetic filter installed into your central heating systems. A magnetic filter (or magnifilter) is a device which collects the iron oxide and sludge that are circulating in your system. The iron oxide is attracted to the manet which then removes it from the system, stopping it from causing damage to your central heating.

If you’re installing a new boiler in your home, the engineer may recommend fitting a magnifilter and it’s sometimes possible to add one to an existing system (it’s sometimes a struggle due to their bulky size).

What do I need to know about powerflushes?

Most powerflushes take around 6 hours to complete although if your system is bigger, it can take longer. It generally takes half a day to powerflush a small system and a full day for a large one.

These can be relatively expensive but depend on your system’s size and location; they range from £300 up to around £800. If you’d like to do it yourself, you’ll need a powerflushing machine and an appropriate cleaning chemical.

Although they are expensive, it’s better to arrange an expert to do this rather than take on the job yourself unless you have experience, as it’s a very technical process which requires specialist machinery.

What are the benefits to me?

Some of the advantages of a powerflush are:

• A warmer home with heat evenly distributed
• Savings on your energy bills
• Reduced fuel bills
• Reliable hot, running water
• A reliable central heating system
• Increased system life span

To find out more about our Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as plumbing and drainage insurance and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

As the days get longer, warmer and lighter, now’s the time to give your home some love. Fixing any issues now means that you’ll be able to enjoy a stress-free summer.

Keeping your home well maintained will help to prevent unforeseen breakdowns, but having Home Emergency Cover in place can give you peace of mind knowing that in the event of an emergency, your home will be covered.

Check your roof

One of the easiest ways to complete your maintenance is to start at the top of your property and work down.

Your roof is the most exposed part of your house and subjected to cold weather, storms and more year after year. Look for cracked or loose tiles and slates and get a builder to fix any faults to prevent water damage occurring.

Make sure your gutters are clear of any tree debris. Clogged gutters can quickly result in water damage to your home, with rainwater running directly down the walls if your guttering is blocked. Any resulting water damage can be expensive to correct.

Fix any plumbing and heating issues

It may feel odd to check your heating while the weather is getting warmer, but spring is the best time to check and fix any heating and plumbing issues. This includes having your boiler serviced, your pipes insulated and bleeding your radiators.

Your boiler will need to be serviced by a Gas Safe or OFTEC registered professional, but you can tackle any simple issues to do with the boiler’s efficiency yourself, if you know how.

You can follow our guides for bleeding radiators, getting your boiler pilot light to ignite and topping up your boiler pressure.

Protect your home from pests

While the weather’s milder, it’s a good time to make sure you’ve pest-proofed your home. Mice, rats and even wasps tend to search for warm, dry places to nest once the weather turns colder and so fixing any problems now protects your home against future infestations.

Rats and mice can chew through your soft furnishings as well as your woodwork along with pipes, brickwork and through electrical wiring, which can damage appliances, affect your electrical supply and even start fires.

Make sure you seal up any potential entry points and bear in mind that mice only need a 5mm gap to get in. You can also remove potential nesting sites by keeping your garden clean and tidy and cover any household waste by making sure you close dustbin lids and cover any compost heaps.

Wasps’ nests are commonly found in the eaves or loft but there are things you can do to protect against these too. Keep your bins tightly closed and away from the house, removing any food sources; especially things that are sweet. Certain herbs, like thyme, repl wasps naturally so use these in your garden, near the house or anywhere you may sit.

To find out more about our Complete Home Emergency plans, boiler and central heating insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as plumbing and drainage insurance and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

Even the most well-maintained boiler will struggle to work properly if the condensate pipe freezes, and as the colder weather draws in, it’s important to know what to do if your boiler stops working.

What is a condensate pipe?

The condensate pipe carries condensation from your boiler to the outside drain. It’s usually made of white or grey plastic and travels from your boiler through the wall and directly outside where your boiler is located.

Common signs the condensate pipe is frozen

1. Gurgling/bubbling noises coming from the boiler
2. Your boiler fails to start
3. A fault code/warning light is on the boiler’s display (this depends on the make/model of your boiler)

 How to find the frozen portion of the pipe

Your pipe will typically be frozen at the most exposed point. Run your hands along the pipe until you find the section which feels colder than the rest.

 How to thaw the pipe

Pour hot water along the length of the pipe, repeating until its thawed. Don’t use boiling water as this could crack or damage the pipe. If you’re using your kettle to heat the water, leave it to cool for 15 minutes or so (you could also use a hot water bottle or a microwaveable heating pack).

Reset your boiler

Once you’re happy that the frozen section of your condensate pipe is melted, you can reset your boiler – use your manufacturer’s guidelines if you’re unsure how to do this. You should not find that your boiler works as expected.

How to stop this happening again

Leaving your heating on overnight can help to stop this happening by keeping your pipes warm while the weather’s cold. You could also buy foam pipe insulation to wrap the pipe in; this is available from most DIY stores.

To find out more about our boiler and central heating insurance, plumbing and drainage insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as Complete Home Emergency plans and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

This month-long campaign runs throughout October and raises awareness of what items w should and shouldn’t be disposing of down our drains with the aim of improving the health of our plumbing and drainage systems as well as saving the environment.

According to Unblocktober.org, although 64% of the UK population say that they’re ‘very aware’ of what should and shouldn’t go down their drains, 48% of people will continue fishing substances they shouldn’t.

What can’t I flush/put down my drain?

As well as being bad for your plumbing and drainage system and leading to blockages that could cause problems, flushing plastics can also lead to pollution.

Disposable face masks, nappies, gloves, wet wipes (which are over 90% plastic), dental floss and even cotton buds are non-biodegradable because they contain plastics and putting them down our drains increases the likelihood of them finding their way to our rivers and seas, where around 8 million pieces of plastic end up every day!

You should also avoid pouring the following down your kitchen sink:

• Cooking oil
• Food – even small crumbs
• Butter/margarine and lard
• Cooking sauce

Problems this can cause

Thames Water have confirmed that each year they have to clear over 75,000 blockages from their sewer systems which are caused mainly by cooking oil and wet wipes being put down the drain. This can lead to floods of sewage in customer’s homes.

In the East of England, preventable blockages cost over £19 million a year and around 800 tonnes of unflushable items are being flushed each week.

What can I do?

• Look out for the ‘Fine to Flush’ symbol on packaging (most products labelled flushable don’t break down easily)
• If you suspect a blockage, clean your drains and pipes regularly with half a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar and very hot (but not boiling) water. This won’t corrode your pipes like some harsh drain cleaners
• If you’ve used cooking oil or have fat left over from cooking, let it cool slightly and, before it hardens, pour it into a bottle to throw away
• Prevent hair/food getting down the drain by investing in plughole protectors
• Replace dental floss with reusable alternatives

Having cover in place before a plumbing and/or drainage emergency takes place is key. By taking out Plumbing & Drainage Insurance with Home Emergency Assist, you’ll be covered in the event of the failure of your plumbing and drainage system. If you upgrade to our ‘Premium‘ plan, we’ll also clear blockages, repair your taps and restore toilet facilities too.

To find out more about our plumbing and drainage insurance , boiler and central heating insurance or other types of home care cover plans, such as Complete Home Emergency plans and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can even request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a quote online.

From leaks to cold water and noisy dishwashers, we’ve put together a handy guide to diagnose what might be going wrong with your machine.

Having cover in place before a problem develops is important, so you know you’re covered in the event of a mechanical or electrical breakdown or against accidental damage.

If you have Appliance Cover with Home Emergency Assist, we can help if one of your registered appliances breaks down. However, there are some simple checks you can do yourself before you call an expert.

Check for leaks

• Make sure you’re not overloading on the detergent. Too much will leave a soapy residue in the detergent tray
• Check that your dishes are stacked properly. Overloading or poor stacking could be the cause of the problem. Make sure you’re not cramming too much in the machine and that all items are in the trays correctly
• Look around the door seal to check for wear and tear. If so, check your manual to find out the correct part number to order a replacement
• Make sure the pipes are connected correctly and still in good condition

Not draining

A little water left in the tub is normal, but if there seems to be more than usual, check the following:

• Check that the drain hose isn’t damaged
• Make sure your drains aren’t blocked
• If neither of these solve the problem, you may need a new pump. Check your owner’s manual for information on replacing the pump

Not filling

If you’ve noticed that your plates are coming out dry and dirty, your machine isn’t filling with water:

• Check under the sink and make sure the hot water valve is open fully
• If this is the case, check your owner’s manual to see if you can access the water inlet valve. This may be clogged up and need clearing out
• If you’re still having trouble, you’ll need to call in appliance engineer

Not washing

If your plates are still dirty after a cycle, it may be due to poor loading:

• Make sure your plates are loaded correctly; if not, they may be blocking each other, meaning that water and detergent won’t reach them
• You can try adding more detergent, but if this doesn’t help, you may need to call in an appliance engineer

Excessive noise

• When the machine is cold, look around inside for any hard objects such as stray knives, forks or food debris and remove from the machine
• Make sure the unit is on an even surface
• If your machine is making a thumping noise, your water inlet valve may need a replacement

To find out more about our home appliances cover or other types of home care cover plans, such as boiler and heating insurance, plumbing and drainage insurance and Complete Home Emergency plan contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can also request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a free quote online in minutes.

As with all your kitchen appliances, keeping them well-maintained and clean is the best way to ensure they last as long as possible, whilst working at their best.

Getting cover in place before your appliance develops a mechanical or electrical fault ensures that you’re covered should the worst happen. Home Appliance Cover with Home Emergency Assist covers up to 10 of your most important appliances all on one plan.

We’ve put together a handy guide for keeping your oven running as efficiently as possible.

The best way to clean your oven

• Organic oven cleaner: you can use a mixture of water, baking soda and white vinegar to clean the dirt from inside your oven, however, you may need to work a lot harder at scrubbing than with a chemical cleaner. The benefit is that there are no harmful fumes or residue
• Chemical oven cleaner: these are designed to attack dirt which is hard to shift so you’ll need to follow safety guidelines while using these, such as using gloves and eye protection. Once used, it’s best to leave the oven at a high heat for around 20 minutes before use, but follow manufacturer’s instructions

If you have a self-cleaning oven, the internal temperature will be set extremely high to burn any dirt away, reducing it to ash and making it easy for you to clean out with a cloth. A self-cleaning cycle will take a few hours; longer than manual cleaning.

Cleaning oven glass

As above, you can use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean your oven door glass.

Alternatively, if you’d rather use a chemical oven cleaner, check the bottle to make sure it’s suitable for use on glass. Some cleaners are too strong and may lead to cracks.

Everyday maintenance

• Clean up after every use, whether it’s the hob or main oven. Removing grease before it becomes embedded will save you time later on
• If possible, bulk cook. Using the oven once to cook multiple meals and freezing them will save on the wear and tear of your appliance as well as money on energy bills
• Open and close the oven door gently and don’t hang anything heavy on the door
• Replace any filters in the cooker hood regularly

Getting cover in place for any of your vital kitchen appliances before a problem occurs is vital. You can cover up to 10 appliances on one plan with our Appliance Cover, now with 25% off until 31 May 2021. Appliance Insurance with Home Emergency Assist covers you against mechanical and electrical breakdown, as well as providing you with accidental damage cover.

To find out more about our home appliances cover or other types of home care cover plans, such as boiler and heating insurance, plumbing and drainage insurance and Complete Home Emergency plan contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301. You can also request a call back to discuss your requirements or get a free quote online in minutes.