Don’t deny it, you love talking about the weather just as much as we do! Wind, rain or shine, we just can seem to help ourselves but chat about the weather we’ve had, are having or are soon to get. It’s often the case that the forecast can’t be relied upon, which isn’t ideal if you’re planning a summer day out, nor if your considering how to protect your business during winter.
We get it, running a business is time-consuming, so setting time aside to plan for another bad winter when there’s no guarantee we’ll see another white winter may not be a high priority. But you never know what mother nature has in store, so if you can do these 5 things now, you’ll help minimise the risk of winter downtime or closure and save yourself from added stress should the worst happen.
1. Check your Insurance Policy
Look out and dust off your business insurance policy. You may discover that you can’t find it at all so it’s better to know this now so you can request a copy from your insurance provider. Once you have a copy take a note of your policy number and how to get in contact with your insurer should you need to make a claim. It’s worthwhile storing a note of these details in your phone so you have access to this information 24/7.
Next, have a look at your policy coverage and assess whether you need to make any adjustments to protect your business against downtime, closure, or damage to your business premises during winter.
2. Make a visual account of valuable stock and equipment
Having a visual account of the condition of stock and equipment before and after any damage occurs will be crucial to any insurance claim you may need to make. It’s also worthwhile taking images of the exterior and interior of your premises too.
3. Set reminders now
Just because you plan to shut your business in winter for only a few days doesn’t mean you’re safe from frozen pipes. Leaving your heating on low while you’re away will reduce the risk of frozen pipes and give you peace of mind during your well-earned winter break. In the chaos of the festive season, it’s reasonable to expect that you may forget to do this, so consider your winter business closure times now and set reminders to leave the heating on low before you lock up shop. If you plan to close for an extended time, you may want to arrange for you or someone else to visit the premises while closed to check for any issues.
4. Know what to do and who to call in an emergency
Just as you should know and have to hand your insurance policy details, you should also find and know how to use your stopcock, and have the phone number of an emergency plumber and your water network’s emergency number. Also don't neglect to take note of the appropriate energy supplier numbers for heating and electricity faults. Any emergency is stressful and chaotic, so knowing and having quick access to this information will be vital.
5. Download your free Winter Wise Guide from Castle Water
Your free Winter Wise Guide is packed with handy tips to get your business safely through the winter, from insulating your water tank to safeguarding your pipes.
