Early forecasts suggest we’re in for yet another colder than average winter. If you want to stay comfortable as the weather cools down, and keep your heating bills low, then you should start preparing your property for the bad weather now. Here are a few simple tasks that will keep your home cosy and comfortable when the snow starts.
Insulate Your Pipes
Insulating your water pipes will reduce the amount of heat lost from your hot water system, and prevent your cold water pipes from freezing or bursting. Rapid freezing and thawing pipes can seriously damage them, and flooding is not something that you want to have to deal with in the winter. Insulation is a cheap and easy fix.
If you plan on going away for a while during the winter, set your heating to come on periodically to prevent pipes from freezing when they are not in use. Pouring salt down your sinks and basins can also be helpful.
Service Your Boiler
Your heating system should be serviced every year. This is especially important if you have gas central heating. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, and can kill in minutes. Getting your central heating serviced won’t just make it more efficient, it could save your life.
Take Care of Your Chimneys or Flues
If you use a wood burner or an open fire, get your chimney or flue cleaned while the weather is still good. Soot and debris-filled chimneys can be a fire hazard. If you discover birds nesting in your chimney, contact your local authority and arrange for an expert to identify them. Some birds are protected species and must be handled with care.
Bleed your Radiators
Put the heating on, and feel your radiators. If they’re warmer at the top than they are at the bottom, then this means that they have air trapped in them. Bleeding the radiator to let out some of that air will make the radiators heat your room more efficiently.
Fit Draught Excluders
If you don’t already have draft excluders, then you should definitely invest in some. You can buy self-adhesive draft strips for just a few pounds, and they will make a huge difference to your comfort, and pay for themselves in no time.
Clean your Gutters
During the autumn, when leaves are falling off the trees in your neighbourhood, you should make an effort to clean your gutters. Water can pool up in your gutters, seep into your roof space, and damage your walls. Cleaning your gutters is the simplest form of preventative maintenance.
Spending a little time preparing your home for the winter now, while the weather is still good, will save you money and stress in the long term. Simple, inexpensive maintenance tasks will keep you comfortable and keep your home in good condition. Don’t wait until your gutters are overflowing or your pipes have burst before you start taking care of your home. Prevention really is better than cure.
This post was written by Crispin Jones for Juice Electrical Supplies – suppliers of energy saving products and other electrical goods.
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