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Our homes go through a lot. They protect us from the temperature and inclement weather. They keep heat in, and cold winds out. They keep us dry and safe while protecting all of our possessions. They are also our space. Where we are free to be ourselves. Where we can express ourselves with our decor choices. They are home to our family, but also to our greatest treasures and memories. We use them in a variety of ways every day. Our windows and doors are opened and closed. Our floors are trampled on. Our appliances and furniture get regular use. Yet we just expect them to last.
Winter time can be tough for all of us. It’s colder. It’s wet. The weather can be unpredictable. The roads can get icy. Our heating bills are more expensive and getting out of bed on a dark, cold morning is significantly harder than it is in the summer. Many of us face coughs and colds, as well as aches and pains, and some of us even suffer from seasonal depression brought on by the cold and dark. Through it all, we expect our homes to endure.
The harsh truth, however, is that they don’t always. Certainly not without care, protection, and consideration. If you want your home to offer you a cozy and comfortable safe haven all winter long, you need to take the time to ensure that it is able. Use this checklist to make sure your home is ready to face the colder weather when it arrives.
Get Insulating
When it comes to keeping warm and looking after your home, insulation should be at the very top of your list. You may already have cavity wall and loft insulation, which go a long way to trapping warm air in your home. But, these aren’t the only ways to do it. Simple things like draught excluders around your external doors, and closing internal doors when a room isn’t in use, can make a massive difference.
Check Your Windows and Doors
Damaged or incorrectly installed seals on windows and doors let warm air out, and cold air in. Over time, a tiny gap in a seal can damage the door or window, the structure of your home, and increase damp and mold inside your house.
Work room at a time, checking all of the seals are well fitted, and doing their jobs correctly. The easiest and often most effective way to do this can be simply running your hand around them while they are closed to feel for cold air.
Clean Your Gutters
In the autumn months, as leaves are falling from the trees, it’s all too easy for guttering to become clogged and damaged. When it rains, this can see cold water running down the side of your house. This water can seep into the spaces between bricks and wood. This can cause severe damage, especially if it freezes and expands as it gets colder. Look for a good gutter repair company if it’s needed.
Get That Roof Repaired
A damaged roof can cause significant problems in the winter time. But, unfortunately, the damage isn’t always apparent until the problems arise. The only way to know what is going on up there is to get up and take a look. Or to ask someone else to do it for you. If your roof needs even minor repairs, get them done now before it becomes a bigger problem.
Have Your Boiler Serviced
Getting your boiler serviced before winter hits is the best way to ensure that you can stay warm throughout the colder months. Even boilers that seem to work well can struggle when they are suddenly being used much more, so a full service every year is often the best way to protect them.
Turn the Heating On
If you haven’t used your heating for months, it’s a good idea to start switching it on for a little every day from now to give it a kickstart. Check all of your radiators, if any are cold, either wholly, or in part, you might need to bleed them. Watch this video for help.
Avoid Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes can be a massive problem over the winter months. They can mean a loss of water and heating, and a burst pipe can lead to flooding and damage to your home. The best ways to avoid frozen pipes are to protect them with insulation or lagging, especially those outside of your house, to check for leaks that need repairing, to run your taps every day to keep water moving and to leave your heating set to a low temperature at night and when you are away from your home.
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