How to bridge the cold snap this winter

The forces of nature have been causing problems yet again for Britain's householders. With some people still mopping up after the floods of two weeks ago, the country has been gripped by a big freeze. You may have thawed out a little by now, but winter isn't over yet, so it's worth making sure you're prepared.

The forces of nature have been causing problems yet again for Britain's householders. With some people still mopping up after the floods of two weeks ago, the country has been gripped by a big freeze. You may have thawed out a little by now, but winter isn't over yet, so it's worth making sure you're prepared.

Burst or frozen pipes can create havoc but there are a number of steps you can take to prevent them. First, ensure all pipes and water tanks are fully lagged, and if you're going on holiday, leave the central heating on low so that warm water circulates around the pipes. Churchill Insurance advises that you ask a friend or neighbour to check your home daily while you're away, in case problems do occur.

If your pipes do freeze or burst, follow the guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers. Turn the water supply off at the main stopcock, then gently thaw out any frozen pipes using a hairdryer or hot water bottle (never use a blow torch). Turn on the tap nearest to the frozen pipe to let the water escape.

As well as turning the water off at the mains, it's vital to switch off the central heating to prevent burst pipes causing further damage. Afterwards, turn the taps on to drain the system. If any part of the ceiling starts to bulge, pierce the plaster to release the water; if you don't do this, the weight of the water could bring the whole ceiling down.

Fuel bills

You may be enduring sub-zero temperatures but that doesn't mean you have to endure hefty gas and electricity bills as a result. More than 30 energy companies operate in the UK, yet around two thirds of homes have not switched supplier since deregulation in the late Eighties. Consequently, most of us are paying more than we need to.

"The average household spends £580 a year on gas and electricity but consumers can save as much as a third by changing utility suppliers," says Jon Miller, spokesman for uSwitch, an online service that compares prices.

The energy watchdog Ofgem has approved a number of websites enabling consumers to compare the costs of different energy providers. These include saveonyourbills.co.uk, unravelit.co.uk, uswitch.com, buy.co.uk and ukpower.co.uk. When you log on, you'll be asked for your postcode, the name of your current provider, how much you're paying and what method of payment you use. You'll then get a list of alternative providers with details of how much they could save you.

Cars

According to More Th>n, the direct sales arm of insurer Royal & SunAlliance, accident claims on motor policies go up by 6 per cent a month in the winter. But Sainsbury's Bank reports that one in three motorists have cut back on the cost of their car insurance by increasing their excess or reducing their cover to third party. If you're a new driver or have just got your licence back after disqualification, this may be the only way to make motor insurance affordable. But the savings could be wiped out if you have an accident, so if you can afford it, it's worth paying the extra for comprehensive insurance.

If you need to defrost your car in the morning, don't leave the engine running to warm it up while you nip back inside to finish your cup of tea as this could attract an opportunistic thief. Norwich Union points out that you may invalidate your insurance if you leave your car unattended with the keys in the ignition.

Breakdowns rise dramatically at this time of year. Last week, the AA received around 23,000 calls a day compared with the usual 11,000. Michael Johnson, a spokesman for the AA, says many breakdowns are caused by a failure to carry out basic maintenance such as checking oil and water levels or putting enough anti-freeze in the cooling system.

Breakdown cover is available for under £40 a year – far cheaper than having to get someone to come and rescue you – yet a lot of us still don't bother to take it out.

"The AA and RAC are just two of many services in the UK," says Richard Mason at Moneysupermarket.com, a website that compares different financial products. "People will be surprised at the number of policies available and at the huge differences in prices and levels of cover."