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28 October 2021

How to prepare your house for winter

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As the clocks go back this weekend and with darker evenings and colder days approaching, it is important to know how you can prepare your house for winter.

Here at Propertynews.com, we have compiled a list of ways that you can protect your home and keep warm over the winter months.

8 ways to prepare your house for winter

  • Secure the outside areas

With high winds, heavy rain and a drop in temperature, it is important to secure the outside area and fix any issues as soon as possible.

Check your roof and replace any broken or missing tiles. This will help to prevent leaks which can cause the structure to deteriorate.

With high winds, it is likely that any broken fences or gates could become flying debris. This could cause further damage to your house, your vehicle or a neighbour’s property. Ultimately, it will cost a lot less to replace a broken fence than your neighbour’s car!

Like these broken fences, recycling and rubbish bins can also become dangerous in high winds. Make sure to store these bins somewhere secure.

With the darker evenings, it is important to check that all outside lights are clean and in working order. These lights will illuminate your surroundings and help you to identify any hazards.

  • Secure your shed

During the winter, the shed houses your garden furniture and other expensive garden equipment such as a lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and barbecues.

It is important to keep these items secure from the winter elements and burglars. Check the locks and door hinges and replace if damaged or old.

  • Clear the gutters, downpipes and gullies

Gutters, downpipes and gullies are crucial to the health of your home.

By diverting water away from your property, these gutters, downpipes and gullies protects the foundation of your home, prevents erosion and helps to avoid basement flooding.

In order to protect your home, these gutters, downpipes and gullies need to be cleaned regularly.

Check for leaves, moss and other debris which can cause a blockage during heavy rain.

If gutters are broken or damaged, it is important to get these replaced to prevent further damage to your home.

  • Sweep your chimney

Check the chimney to ensure that any blockages have been removed. This will keep the ventilation points clear and will help to avoid any chimney fires or dangerous carbon monoxide gases from entering your home.

  • Test all fire and CO2 alarms

Fires and furnaces are lit numerous times throughout the winter to combat the colder evenings.

It is absolutely vital to test fire and CO2 alarms throughout the colder months to ensure they are working correctly.

  • Get your boiler serviced

Getting your boiler serviced regularly will ensure that it is running effectively and safely. A faulty boiler can be incredibly dangerous and small problems can quickly escalate.

Booking a service before winter will give you time to schedule in any necessary fixes before the cold weather hits.

It is best to ask your insurance provider how often you will need to service your boiler.

  • Keep your house heated

During the winter months, it is a good idea to keep your heating on a timer. This will help to keep the system running smoothly, heating your pipes and home.

A major problem that many households experience over the winter period is frozen pipes. While a heating timer may help to keep frozen pipes at bay, it is also a good idea to wrap all cold pipes, especially those outdoors, in thermal insulation.

Making sure that your loft is insulated can make a huge difference in your home’s energy efficiency. A properly insulated loft will keep your home feeling toasty and may also lower your heating bills too!

Do your radiators feel cold at the top and warm at the bottom? This is a sign that you will need to bleed the radiators. Bleeding radiators helps them to work effectively and keep your home feeling cosy.

  • Important numbers

While it is important to prepare your house for winter, it is equally important to be prepared for when things go wrong.

Collate a list of important numbers and keep them in a place that is easily accessible.

These contacts may include your utility supplier, plumber and insurance company.

You could also check your insurance policy to determine if you need to increase your cover.

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