How To Prepare Your Home For Winter?

As we approach winter, the weather is set to change, which could damage our properties. Despite this, there are many precautions that you can take to prevent this from happening. Whether it be protection from frost, rain, or snow, your home needs to be shielded from the threats that winter poses. So, what should you be accomplishing to prepare your home for winter?

7 Tips On How To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Check Windows, Doors, and Walls

Firstly, you’ll want to check your windows to ensure they’re not open or on the latch. Many people leave their windows during summer to allow fresh air circulation. Despite this, it can increase your heating costs if left like this in the winter since you’re allowing hot air to escape. Similarly, there might be gaps in your doors and windows that you should promptly seal to reduce draughts.

Additionally, you should check your exterior walls and pointing as decayed pointing can allow water to seep into your home. This can lead to an array of issues such as penetrating damp, threatening the integrity of your home’s structure. You can prepare your home for winter repointed by a professional if you find that your pointing is crumbling away.

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Test Your Heating

Your heating has likely taken a break during the summer months, leaving you none the wiser about its current state. Hence, it’s a fair idea to test your heating before you need it to amend any problems.

You may find that your radiators need bleeding, your boiler needs fixing, or your vents and filters need dusting. It’s a good idea to get all this accomplished before it gets too cold, and you’ll be relying on your heating.

Also Read: Winter Calls For Water Heater – Get it ready

Service Your Boiler

To service your boiler, you should ensure that your pilot light is on and re-light it if you find that it’s not. You may also want to get your boiler serviced by a Gas Safety registered engineer. This will provide you with a professional opinion to put your mind at ease and assure you that no carbon monoxide is leaking.

Also Read: 6 Best Oil And Gas Safety Apps For Homeowners

Check Your Guttering

Leaves or rubbish filling up your guttering can make your pipes particularly heavy once they get icy, and this can lead to damage and result in the gutters ultimately collapsing. Therefore, you should sweep your guttering of any debris to prevent any issues from coming into play.

Also Read: If A Water Main Bursts, What Do You Do? (Until The Plumber Arrives)

Insulate Your Pipes

Not only is pipe insulation handy for reducing your heating costs, but it can also prevent them from freezing and consequently bursting. This will incur the cost of insulating worthwhile as a higher cost should the pipes burst.

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Look After Your Pipes

Even if your pipes are insulated, you’ll need to look after them for the foreseeable future. As previously mentioned, water can sit in your pipes, freeze, and cause the pipe to burst. Not only is this expensive to mend, but you may be required to move out while the damage is being repaired. To avoid this, you should look out for holes or cracks appearing in your exterior walls that may allow cold air into the pipes. Be sure to seal these holes to solve these issues before presenting themselves. Additionally, you should keep the heating above four degrees Celsius, even when you’re away from the property.

Also Read: 8 Top Benefits Of Installing Automatic Gates

Locate Your Stopcock

In a case of emergency, you should know where your stopcock is. This allows you to turn the cold-water system off and prevent further damage. Typically, you’ll find this under your sink.

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