Heating outages, blockages, power outages – half of Hungarians are not prepared for holiday emergencies

The oven stops, the drain gets clogged – Christmas home emergencies

Christmas preparations can be a source of many problems: increased use and load on the electrical network can cause short circuits and breakdowns in the stove, oven and dishwasher, and greasy deposits and food residues can get into the drain, which can even cause blockages. Electrical overload, continuous use of household appliances and decorative lighting can blow out fuses and overheat sockets. Due to the winter cold, heating systems are also under maximum load, and if maintenance is not done, it can often lead to problems.

In the event of an unexpected household emergency – a burst pipe, an electrical short circuit, a blockage – most Hungarians would have difficulty finding a reliable professional. According to a representative survey of the Hungarian population on home assistance insurance (emergency assistance) by Europ Assistance, one fifth of the population aged 18–69 has a reliable professional for all home repairs. Less than half (46%) of respondents can only call a reliable craftsman for a few areas, while a third would not be able to call a professional at all in the event of an unexpected breakdown. Parents are more likely to rely on experienced professionals, with 51 percent of them being able to find a handyman to deal with an emergency in their home.

“The research revealed that only 22 percent of the population currently has home assistance insurance, the majority of them (13 percent) as part of some kind of home insurance, although the vast majority (87%) believe it is a useful service. In addition, it is clear that finding the right professional is a problem, and they are afraid of the expected cost of installation, possible surcharges, and the lengthy arrival time. The situation is particularly difficult during the Christmas period, when most professionals are also on vacation. However, with home assistance insurance, these problems can be avoided, as we can send a reliable professional to solve the given emergency on the day 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, so an unexpected breakdown will not cause any problems during the holidays”

– said Gábor Szabolcs Timár, the operations manager ofEurop Assistance.

Prevention is important: check your household appliances and decorative lighting

It is worth preventing Christmas emergencies by regularly checking and maintaining household appliances. If you notice strange noises, smells, or irregular operation, it is recommended to call a specialist before the holidays. It is also useful to check the condition of the decorative lighting every year, as the simultaneous operation of decorative lighting and several kitchen appliances increases the chance of a short circuit. It is also important that a burning candle should never be left unattended.

Although few people think about it, it is not only gifts and food purchases that are important during this period. For safety reasons, it is definitely useful to make a “Christmas emergency” list with the contact details of installers, insurers, and on-call services.