By Despite us Brits experiencing all four seasons in the very same day - no matter the time of year - cold temperatures, gales and downpours are certainly more commonplace during the winter. Therefore it’s crucial we prepare home sweet home before the shorter, darker and stormier days arrive.
Winterising your home doesn’t need to be expensive or take a lot of time but it can save you stress and unexpected costs in the long run.
Servicing & TLC
Carrying out a heating health check is by far one of the most important winterising tasks. Take advantage of any boiler or immersion heater service plans you are entitled to or consider getting one booked with a Gas Safe registered engineer. It will cost in the region of £75 but will save hundreds on emergency call-out fees - and stop you from having to wear all your coats and jumpers at once if anything does break down!
While you’re at it, bleed all the radiators so they can work to maximum efficiency. If you have a more traditional heating system, like an open fire or wood burning stove, ensure you embrace your inner Dick Van Dyke and call out a professional chimney sweep.
To make sure all your efforts (and heating) don’t go to waste, check doors and windows for cracks and drafts, and seal them properly.
Wrap up warm with insulation
Insulation works for your home like a quality down coat works for your body – keeping the heat in and the cold out.
There are small improvements you can make that provide some form of insulation, and these include investing in thermal curtains and draught excluders for external doors. Insulating pipes with foam tubes, also known as lagging, can prevent them from freezing or worse – bursting.
Most importantly, you should consider insulating your loft, walls and floor. You can lose up to a third of your home’s heat through these areas, so investing in insulation can significantly reduce your energy bills. Maybe Insulate Britain have a point?
There are occasionally home energy grants available to help pay for things like loft and cavity wall insulation, so it’s definitely worth checking to see if your home is eligible.
Leaf it out, lock it down & light it up
The last thing you want is for fallen autumn leaves and a build-up of moss to block your gutters and downpipes. Clear these areas and while you’re up there, also check for any broken or loose roof tiles and replace them. If you can’t do this, maybe ask your window cleaner as they often provide this type of service too.
Other items that can easily be blown away in gale force winds include fence panels, wheelie bins, garden toys and furniture. Put away what you can and lock down what you can’t.
A little illumination audit might be in order too. If you commute or carry out school runs, you’ll likely be leaving in the dark and returning home in the dark, so an outside light is a good option for both safety and home security.
Check your cover & tariffs
After the recent energy crisis, it’s been reported that 1.5 million households could struggle to pay energy bills this winter. Compare the best energy deals and switch suppliers to potentially save hundreds of pounds each year on gas and electricity.
Make sure your home insurance policy is up to date and paid for too, plus find out if you have home emergency cover. Only one fifth of insurers include this as standard, so you may need to pay for it as an add-on, usually costing around £5 per month or £50 a year. It covers things like boiler breakdowns, burst pipe repairs, blocked drains, storm damage and sudden electrical failure.
As any Game of Thrones fan will know, winter is coming. Be prepared!
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