The No Nonsense blog

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Well here we are again in the midst of the festive season, another year nearly over, and this year there’s certainly no doubt as to whether it will be a White Christmas! Pretty much guaranteed given the arctic conditions that have taken hold of the country. And what a year 2010 has been for No Nonsense with the recent launch of our Home Insurance product, our shortlisting for the Eircom Spider awards, sponsorship of both TV3′s The Apprentice and the Top Gear Festival and most importantly, growing numbers of No Nonsense customers getting the cover they really want for less!

As for this cold snap, we’d like to share with you some helpful safety tips for protecting your car and home during the festive period and throughout the winter. Please see the end of this post for these. Of course, if you do encounter a problem during the wintry days & weeks ahead, please just call us on;

• 1890 25 27 39 – If you would like to report a Motor Claim
• 1890 68 56 85 – If you would like to report a Home Claim

Finally, can we take this opportunity to wish all our customers a most happy, safe & peaceful Christmas and the very best for 2011!

Now for those safety tips…

Driving in bad weather – stay safe behind the wheel!

• When possible, carry a can of de-icer, a plastic windscreen scraper, a first aid kit, a mobile and charger, a torch and batteries, jumper cables & tow rope, a warning triangle, a hi viz jacket, your car tool kit and winter clothes.
• A simple but invaluable addition is a small shovel to allow you dig out snow to clear in front of wheels.
• Check your battery, antifreeze, lights/bulbs, tyres, wipers, fluids, fuel, heater and demister – in addition to your normal recommended vehicle checks.
• Try to avoid hill climbs or descents by planning your journey in advance.
• To maintain traction change gear gently and smoothly.
• Descend an incline in a lower gear allowing the engine to control speed.
• ABS on modern cars helps by not locking the wheels but cannot compensate for excessive or sharp application of brakes on ice. When braking on ice, gently does it. If you do not have ABS, gently touch brakes, release and repeat.  This will allow the wheels to re-grip and prevent prolonged wheel locking.
• In heavy snow fall or blizzards consider using hazard lights if visibility is particularly poor.
• Road markings may be obscured so be extra vigilant of your road position, avoid unnecessary manoeuvres.

Protecting your home in freezing temperatures or heavy snow…

• Lag/insulate outdoor pipes, attic tanks and supply pipes.
• If a property is unoccupied, the water should be shut. Run the hot taps to drain the attic tank.
• If your home is unoccupied for any period during cold weather, leave the heating on timer to protect from freezing and bursting pipes
• In the absence of central heating, use thermostatically controlled portable heating to maintain temperatures without unnecessary energy waste.
• Open the attic door to allow heat into your attic. This helps to prevent the pipework and tanks in your attic from freezing over.
• Leave the underside of the attic tank un-insulated to allow warm air to reach the tank.
• Ensure boilers are serviced annually by a qualified professional.
• If applicable, purchase ample solid fuel and check your oil tank.
• Flat roofs are particularly susceptible to snow gathering. If snow fall is excessive consider brushing snow off such roofs. Please only do so if you have appropriate access and equipment and can do so safely.
• If roofs are subject to excessive weight, the joists can give way. In very heavy snow storms accompanied by acute snow accumulation of roofs, it is advisable to monitor the roofs and observe the integrity of the joists and the roofing material.
• Some modern houses have horizontal boiler outlets, often at low level. Ensure these are not blocked or obscured.
• Frequently clear your path to maintain access to the public road. You may wish to salt or grit the cleared surface, but do not use water – it will freeze and create an ice rink.
• And finally…a great tip both for safety and for spreading the festive spirit!….visit your neighbours to see if you can help them.