Winter can pose a lot of threats to our home. Harsh weather and darker days mean that we are more susceptible to problems within our home, and when things do go wrong, it is harder to fix them. While we are already in winter, we haven’t quite hit the depths yet, and there are things that you can do between now and Christmas to make sure your home is in tip-top shape ready to go into the new year. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Clear out the gutters and drains
Your gutters and drains take a battering throughout the harsh winter months. Storms blow leaves and all sorts of debris into them, and the added rainfall puts them under a lot more pressure. Before the worst of the weather really sets in, head up there – or get a professional too – and clear out anything that could cause blockages. By doing this, they will drain water away much more effectively and reduce the risk of flooding into your home and damp issues.
Weatherproof the garden
Your garden is particularly important when it comes to prepping for winter. Strong winds can cause damage to gates and fences, so spend some time making sure they are well fixed into the ground and supporting them if necessary. Trees need particular attention, as they can be dangerous if not stable. A tree survey from somewhere like Arbtech Consulting Ltd can give you an idea of how safe any trees in your garden are, and whether any preventative work needs to be undertaken to keep them safe through winter. If you haven’t already, pack up things like barbeques and any outdoor furniture to prevent them from getting rusty. If you haven’t got somewhere undercover to store them, cover them with a tarpaulin – strapped down, of course – or specialist covers.
Protect pipework
One of the main problems faced by homeowners in the winter is cracked and burst pipes. These can cause all sorts of significant problems but are one of the easiest things to prevent. Cover the pipes in lagging – a layer of foam insulation wrapped around the pipes to protect the pipes when the temperature drops below freezing.
Add Insulation
This is something that in the long term, will save you its cost over and over again. By making sure your house is insulated as much as possible – in between the cavities in the wall and the loft being two of the main areas, you will reduce the amount of heat loss, which is not excellent for the environment but your bank account as well.
Get reacquainted with your heating controls
By now, most of us have put the heating on, but if you aren’t familiar with the settings, now is the time to learn them. Ideally, you want the temperature to be at a consistent level all day around, so the boiler is not on and off heating up, which can cost you more money in the long run.