Challenges in your home can occur at anytime of year, however the summer and winter months present safety concerns that can be managed with early awareness and prevention. Please see our summer and winter safety advice below:
Summer
The warm weather can present certain challenges when it comes to looking after your home. Please consider the following summer safety tips and contact Pinnacle at on 0800 031 8628 if you require assistance. For more summer safety tips, visit the Pinnacle website.
Window safety
As it gets warmer, it may be tempting to open windows wide to let in a cool breeze. However, there is a risk of children or vulnerable adults falling from open windows and being injured if restrictors are not engaged. Please follow the below window safety advice:
- To reduce the risk of children climbing near to windows, please avoid placing furniture beneath first floor windows.
- Window restrictors are there to stop a window opening too far to avoid an accident, therefore we ask that you do not remove them.
- It is important to check often whether your window restrictors are operating correctly.
- Window restrictors should not allow the window to open further than 100mm when engaged.
- If your window restrictors are missing or not working properly, please contact Pinnacle National Service Centre on 0800 031 8628 to get this remedied as soon as possible.
Charge electrical items safely
Though this advice applies all year around, higher temperatures can increase the risk of fires caused by electronics and not charging safely. Therefore, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t leave electronics plugged in after they have finished charging (for example, keeping a phone plugged into a charger overnight).
- Don’t overload sockets or extension leads.
- Ensure charging cables and plugs are not covered by furniture or other items like clothing.
- Do not attempt to charge an electronic item if the battery or cable is damaged.
- Use the correct charger for your batteries.
Keep your home safe when going away
If you are going away and will be away from your home for a period of time, we recommend the following steps:
- Turn your water off. Hot weather can cause burst pipes, so we recommend locating your stopcock and turning the water off while you’re away. The stopcock is the little tap or lever on pipes, often found under your sink.
- Unplug electricals to reduce bills energy wastage and minimise fire risks.
BBQ safety
BBQs should be used in a well-ventilated outdoors space, away from flammable objects like fences, sheds, shrubs and garden waste. Once finished with your BBQ, ensure it is fully extinguished before putting it away. If you have a gas BBQ, make sure the gas bottle is turned off and removed safely. If you use a disposable BBQ (or use coals), do not throw it away until it has cooled down completely.
Winter
Colder weather during the winter months can present significant challenges. Here are a few steps you can take to prepare your home for adverse weather.
Check your boiler is working
Problems with boilers are mostly noticed in the winter months when people turn the heating on, so be sure to do regular checks of your boiler throughout the year to minimise the likelihood of a loss of heating or hot water when temperatures drop. For any further problems with your boiler, please contact Pinnacle National Service Centre on 0800 031 8628.
- Check boiler pressure. This should be between 1 and 1.5 bar, anything below would mean your radiators won’t heat up properly. You can top up the pressure until it reaches 1 bar by yourself using this video by Pinnacle.
- Turn your heating on and check the boiler fires up correctly. Feel your radiators getting warmer to check the system is working.
Locate your stopcock
Find your stopcock and check it works so you can turn the water off in an emergency until help arrives. It’s the little tap or lever on pipes, often found under your sink.
Bleed your radiators
If your radiators are cold at the top when the heating is on, you might need to bleed them. You should have received a radiator key when you first moved into your home. You can watch a step-by-step video guide by Pinnacle to bleeding your radiators. If problems with your boiler/radiators persist, contact Pinnacle National Service Centre on 0800 031 8628.
To bleed your radiators:
- Turn your heating off and let them cool down.
- Have a cloth ready as a small amount of water may come from the bleed hole.
- Insert the radiator key into the bleed valve, turn anti-clockwise and wait for a hissing sound.
- Close the valve again when water starts to leak out.
- Re-check your boiler pressure. If pressure has dropped, re-pressurise it again.
Condensation, damp and mould
Condensation mainly occurs during the colder months and is caused by water vapour or moisture from inside the home coming into contact with a colder surface, such as a window or wall. The resultant water drops (condensation) may then soak into the wallpaper or paintwork or even plasterwork. In time, the affected damp areas can attract black mould that grows on its surface.
Most homes will be affected by condensation at some point. However, certain activities can increase the problem. For more information, you can read this short guide on how to prevent condensation, damp & mould in your homes.
Keep your home safe when going away
If you’re going away during the colder months, we recommend leaving your heating on low or to the frost setting to reduce the risk of something going wrong. This will prevent your pipes from freezing and the subsequent defrosted water causing a burst pipe.
For more winter safety tips, visit the Pinnacle website.