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10 Steps to Prepare Your Home for the Winter

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Winter has its good and bad points. Snow is beautiful but disruptive and potentially dangerous. The weather is cold and wet, but this makes you feel cosier when you get back to your warm home.

However, among the drawbacks of winter is the fact that extreme weather can leave its impact on your home, and if you are not careful you can be left with some serious problems. The best way to avoid this is to be prepared and to get your home ready for winter before the cold weather hits in force. That way, you will be free to enjoy the best bits of the season and have the most effective protection possible against the worst.

Expand Your Tool Collection

Tools will be useful for implementing some of these measures and for carrying out any ad-hoc repairs and maintenance over the course of the winter. For this reason, it is a good idea to expand your range of high-quality tools if you feel it is lacking. A wide variety of professional hand tools can be found both online and in shops. Look for good deals, and you will be ready to tackle the coldest months.

Consider Insulation

Loft and cavity wall insulation are effective ways to keep your home warm and to cut the energy costs associated with heating it. Both deliver excellent cost savings over just a couple of years and have long life spans. If your home could be better insulated, consider doing this before winter. That way, when the worst weather hits, you will be ready to reap the benefits of improved comfort and lower energy bills.

Have Your Boiler Checked

In the winter, you will be heavily relying on your boiler. It is best to get it checked or serviced before the real cold weather hits, when it will be more bearable to have the heating off if any work needs to be done. After a summer of light usage for only hot water, the sudden heavy usage at the start of winter can lead problems. This is why autumn or the earliest part of winter can be a good time to have it serviced or at least looked over by a professional.

Check Radiators

For similar reasons, it is a good idea to also check that your radiators are in good working order. This will likely be a quick and simple affair. Unless you uncover any serious problems such as leaks or corrosion, you will probably just need to bleed any radiators that seem off. This can save you from finding out that your heating isn’t working very well at a less convenient moment, when seeing to the problem will be a nuisance.

Windows and Doors

If your windows and doors are due for repair or replacement, it can be a good idea to get this done before winter. Not only is it more pleasant to have them replaced before cold weather hits, but it will also help ensure your home stays warm and energy-efficient. Loose, damaged or poorly sealed exterior doors and windows can let heat out and cold air in. Having the problem seen to before the winter hits is a good idea.

Check Roofs

Winter weather can cause several types of problem for roofs if they have even minor vulnerabilities. Snow can put them under stress by adding weight, wind can blow tiles loose and leaks can allow water into your property, which could potentially lead to damage. Check your roof before the weather gets worse, and see to any problems you find.

Check Pipes

Probably the biggest winter risk to your home is that of burst pipes. Check that pipes are well insulated to try and minimise the danger of this happening. If you go away, leave your heating on the lowest setting or have somebody you trust come and turn it on for a little while each day.

Your Garden

Strong winds can create a lot of problems if you have loose items in your garden. Even fairly large items can be picked up and blown around by the wind, creating a danger of damage or injury. Every winter, at least a few flying trampolines will be reported. Dead branches on trees can also be a problem, as the wind can dislodge them. Check your garden and ensure that any hazards are secured or removed.

Use Appropriate Heating

Beware of choosing the wrong type of heating or using heaters that have been poorly installed. You can save on your heating bill by using a smaller heater that will only heat the room you are in, but some types of heater are not designed for indoor use and can release harmful carbon monoxide. Poorly installed or poorly made heaters can also release carbon monoxide, or lead to other hazards such as the danger of electrocution or fire. Ensure you stick to appropriate types of heating that have been properly manufactured and installed.

Plan Ahead

Unfortunately, there will be times when no amount of preparation can completely prevent the weather from causing problems for your home. In this case, proper planning is key and can be a valuable way to minimise damage. For example, if your home is in an area where there is a danger of flooding, form a plan for what you will do if this happens. Then you will know what to do and be ready to take prompt action.

For more information about how to get your home ready for winter, please click the link.

 

The post 10 Steps to Prepare Your Home for the Winter appeared first on Tools Today Blog.


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