As the colder, autumn nights begin to draw closer and the weather starts to worsen, it is vital that you get your home ready for winter for when the snow, wind and rain hits.
When caught unprepared, winter weather can cause damage to your home exterior, whilst cold and icy weather can cause pipes to freeze.
However, it seems that many of us have not prepared our homes for the colder months ahead. There are plenty of ways that you can prepare your home ready for winter, so here are some great tips for the months ahead.
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Keep Your Pipes Insulated
Burst pipes are a huge issue during winter thanks to quick freezing and thawing, which can potentially cause huge amounts of damage. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your pipes warm with a foam cardigan, also known as lagging. This will reduce the heat lost within the pipe and insulate the pipes to prevent them from freezing and leaking.
Prepare Your Fire
If you are lucky enough to own a working fireplace or a wood burning stove, then now is the perfect time to prepare it for use during the winter.
Make sure that your chimney is swept at least once a year and take this time to stockpile some firewood and kindling. Once the weather turns colder, many people panic buy firewood meaning that it can be tricky to find. It’s also important to check that all of your smoke alarms are in full working order.
Insulation Is Important
Did you know that almost 25% of the heat in your house is lost through the roof? Ensuring that your home has good wall and loft insulation will help to keep your house warm and use less energy.
House warmth can also escape through windows. Check your windows for any drafts and look at different types of blinds and curtains that can act as an extra layer of insulation. Adding thicker curtains and window blinds will also prevent any unwanted light and sound from getting in. You should also invest in warm furnishings, such as soft throws and blankets so that you can quickly get warm if needed.
Bleed Your Radiators
If your radiators are cold to the touch at the top and warm at the bottom, then there may be trapped air inside them which will be stopping the heat from circulating properly. Bleeding the radiators releases the air and allows the radiator to run more efficiently, so grab a towel and radiator key and check your radiators.
Check Your Guttering
As summer ends and leaves begin to fall from the trees, your gutters and drainpipes may well start to get clogged up with loose leaves and foliage from trees. Once the blockage becomes too much, water will begin to back up within the gutters and leak into the roof and walls of your house. Ensure that your gutters are free from dirt and mud to minimize any water blockage.