The Summer is the time to think about your heating!
This may sound like a ludicrous idea, but there is a logic behind it. No matter what heating you may have in your home or heating you may wish to convert to, the summer is by far the best time to think about it and get anything done that needs doing. The problem is that most people do not think like this and wait until the first cool nights of autumn; by then, it can be too late.
Gas Fire Servicing
It’s not a glamorous subject, but gas fire servicing is essential. Gas fires are safe and generally a good option for any home, but they must be serviced to remain so. Gas leaks are nasty, but the less well-known risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is perhaps even more critical. By getting your fire serviced each year, you are helping to ensure your safety. However, getting it serviced right when you want to start using it can be risky. Firstly, a problem may be found that needs a new part of a replacement fire; if it is cold, you will then have to live with it. If you service the fire in the summer, any issues that come up can be dealt with at a time when you don’t need the fire. The more direct risk is if you start using the fire after a long summer before it has been serviced, you may be risking your safety because an issue won’t be found until the busy servicing people can get to you, which could be weeks or months in the autumn and winter.
Stove and Fire Installation
This is certainly a more exciting subject. You have finally decided to get a brand new fire or perhaps change an old gas fire for a cosy traditional cast iron radiator or new wood-burning stove. You probably thought about it in the winter, forgot about it over the summer, and now you want to get it all fitted and working before it gets too cold. Sadly, you may have to wait quite a long time. The fact of the matter is that everyone thinks like that, which means there is a mad rush the second we have a chilly night at the end of the summer. Before you know it, you will hope it gets installed before Christmas rather than winter. Once again, the key is to do all of this in the summer. The certified and experienced technicians who install furnaces, stoves, and other appliances won’t be so busy, and the turnaround time may be less than half the time in the autumn. You can then light the fire on those nippy October evenings, smug in the knowledge that everyone else is desperately trying to fit their fire.
Boiler Servicing
Much like gas fires, gas boilers have the potential to be quite dangerous if left unserviced, but thankfully, issues are rare. Boilers cause issues when they go wrong or are condemned by the people servicing them, leaving the home without heating OR hot water. Perhaps later, it hits home, especially for people with small children. Of course, boilers are used all year round. However, people still tend to think about servicing before they put the central heating system on in the Autumn, and once again, this leads to big waiting times and the potential of being without heat and hot water when it is cold outside. Let’s face it: in the summer, the kids can swim at the local outdoor pool or a bit of a wash in the paddling pool, but in the winter, it’s much harder. It is also important to make sure you choose a gas safe registered company to service your fire.
Other Household Jobs
It is not just heating that can benefit from some summer lovin’, though. Things like gutters are perfect for doing in the summer before they are needed again. Drains are another big one. You may have an outdoor drain that isn’t draining very well, but you forget to think about it in good weather. Only when the rain starts in autumn do you remember and…guess what? So does everyone else. Companies like http://www.thedrainguys.co.uk/ are easy to find and can get issues like this cleared up any time of the year, so why wait until the weather forces your hand?
Don’t let winter get the drop on you; plan and get cosy when the colder weather comes. Summer has always been a time to prepare for winter, but that idea seems to have slipped away, leaving us at risk of cold nights!
