How to Prepare Your Home for Winter
As the weather grows colder and the nights grow darker, there are many steps you can take to make sure your home is prepared for winter. Cold winds, rain and snow can take their toll on your property, but we’ve got some handy tips to make sure you can keep cosy indoors worry-free! Remember, this is just a guide – if you’ve got any questions about your specific property, feel free to get in touch.
If you’re buying a new property in the next month or two, you could invest in a property survey to make sure the house is suitably weather-proofed and prepared for winter. The surveyor will be able to tell you whether any features of the house need replacing or repairing, such as double-glazed windows and exterior doors. This can save you some money in the long run – and cut down on your heating bill if you identify the problem early! You can check your windows and doors to make sure there are no gaps letting in that cold wind, and make sure they’re shut tight so you don’t get a draught!
Clear out your guttering or hire someone to do the job. A build-up of autumn leaves or rubbish can freeze solid, causing your gutter to collapse when the temperature drops.
Before the weather gets so cold that you’re reaching for the thermostat the second you get out of bed, try to do a thorough test of the heating throughout the property to prepare your home for winter. Bleed your radiators if necessary – if they’re hot at the bottom but cold at the top, get your radiator key ready! You’ll also need to make sure your boiler is working properly (you could book a service from a registered engineer to give you peace of mind).
Maintaining your pipes is a great idea year-round, but it’s never more important than in cold winter weather. Water in the pipes can freeze and burst pipes, so make sure you keep your heating on at a low level if you can. If you’ve got smart heating, this is really easy to manage – you can even boost the heating up via an app on your phone while you’re out and about. Lag your pipes to make them even less likely to freeze and burst.
If you’ve got an outdoor space, it’s time to get your garden ready for winter. Make any repairs that you’ve been putting off – that wobbly garden fence mightn’t bother you too much in summer, but if strong winter winds knock it down and you suddenly find yourself sharing a garden with a neighbour, you’ll wish you’d sorted it sooner! If you need to raise a boundary dispute to see whose responsibility your garden boundary is, we can help. Maintain your plants and borders – you could even plant some spring-flowering bulbs to bring a pop of bright colour to the garden when the weather heats up! If you’ve got a greenhouse, move any delicate plants inside, and make sure you rake up those pesky autumn leaves!
Autumn weather can be tough on your roof, so consider a roofing inspection to makes sure all of your tiles are in place and there are no leaks – nothing kills a Christmassy mood more than an unexpected downpour of icy water in the middle of your bedroom!
Check your outdoor lighting – or invest in some! If you’ve got solar lighting or porch lights that guide your way down the garden path on those dark mornings and evenings, make sure they don’t need new bulbs and are in good working order to get your home prepared for winter. This is also a perfect time to install any outdoor Christmas lights!
Winter can be tough, but with our tips we hope everyone can stay safe, warm and dry indoors – and enjoy a happy holiday season.
