Winter is here! The temperature has certainly dropped, the car needs defrosting every morning and we don’t go far without our winter coats, scarves and gloves! But not only do we need to protect ourselves from the cold winter months, but our homes also need a little protection from the elements as soon as the temperature starts to drop. If you want to prevent damage to your property, then it’s important that you know how to do this. It will hopefully save you a little money along the way!
Read on for 6 tips to get your home ready for winter.
Upgrade your lighting
Dark nights mean that all the lights are on by 4pm! Which usually means a pretty shocking electric bill! However, upgrading your lights to smart light bulbs will certainly save you money over the winter period. Not only do smart LED bulbs use less energy and create less waste, but they pretty much pay for themselves. They last longer than traditional energy saving bulbs and they’re stylish and convenient too.
Check or install a carbon monoxide alarm
During the winter months, we’re using heaters, fires, cookers and other gas powered appliances a little more than usual. If your boiler or appliances are faulty or haven’t been well maintained then they could become a carbon monoxide risk. Which in turn could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Having an alarm will give you peace of mind, however getting your appliances serviced and checked by qualified engineers will also help eliminate the issue.
Clear your gutters
During the colder months, your gutters are more susceptible to getting clogged with falling leaves, twigs, debris and even birds nests. Then when we experience heavy rainfall or melting snow, a clogged drain and gutter can start to create all kinds of problems; damp and mould being the most common. In order to prevent damage to your property, make sure your gutters and drains are clear.
Bleed your radiators
If you haven’t done this already then now is the time to do so. There’s nothing worse then the temperature dropping and finding out that your radiators aren’t working properly! Sometimes, air will get into your heating system and prevent them from working, so try to release the air as soon as possible.
Get your boiler checked
Before winter fully sets in, it’s a good idea to make sure your boiler is in good working condition. Not having access to heating or hot water for just a day or two is certainly unpleasant! So, before the temperature drops really low, get a qualified engineer to come and give your boiler the once over. Make sure you find an engineer that is listed on The Gas Safe Register.
Invest in some thick curtains
Loosing heat through your windows will cost you a small fortune throughout the winter months and no one likes a draught! Investing in some thick curtains to hang over the windows in your property will help each room to retain heat and stop it escaping. They also stop cold air from getting in. Investing in reducing heat loss is a great way to stop you overusing your heating system too.
Leave a Reply