Sodden presents do not make for a very merry Christmas

ith flooding becoming increasingly prevalent across many parts of the UK, flood recovery experts are warning householders to think about where they store presents ahead of the big day.

Richfords Fire & Flood in Redruth, Bracknell and Cullompton suggest that gifts should be stored upstairs in case of any big downpours washing out ground floors. This is particularly the case in flood-risk areas.

We have also experienced a very cold snap which can cause flooding through burst pipes. The issue of burst pipes causing damage to property and belongings can be avoided in a good many cases by making sure central heating is left on low at all times. Even if you are leaving home for a short trip to see relations, it is a good idea to set the thermostat to keep pipes from freezing up.

Director Mike Cooper said:
“Families often spend a lot of money on new toys for their children and cannot afford to wake up one morning, after bad weather, to find them soaked in a foot of dirty flood water. The other aspect people need to consider is insurance. Sometimes, Christmas gifts can mount up to a high value if plasma TVs, games consoles and smartphones are involved.”
Richfords Fire & Flood is, therefore, asking people to check their household contents insurance to make sure that the value of anything they are keeping in the house ahead of the 25th December is covered.

So here is our checklist:
Check household contents insurance,
Put all gifts upstairs or right out of the way of risk,
Keep gifts out of sight of windows (theft risk),
Keep all receipts for gifts,
Have a happy Christmas on the big day.