Five Steps to Make your Home Winter Ready

Even after the washed out summer, there are still some essential steps that need to be taken now to avoid finding problems once winter has set in. We all know that we should make our cars winter ready by checking windscreen washer levels, anti-freeze, tyres etc., but how many of us do the same with our home?

Here are five things that you need to look at now before it is too late!

1. Gutters

A sadly overlooked servant of our home, gutters sit at the base of our roof with the endless task of collecting rainwater and diverting it to the nearest drain.

Spare a thought for them this autumn and make sure that they are not full of debris and are aligned correctly to avoid the nuisance of overflow in heavy rain which can cause serious problems such as damp penetration into the home.

2. Ventilation

It is human nature to want to seal every crack and to stop every draught, making our homes as air tight as possible. Unfortunately, this leads to poor ventilation which in turn leads to condensation possibly leading to mildew and in some extreme cases health issues - triggering ailments like asthma.

As winter sets in, remember to warm the home, but also provide adequate ventilation. Most double glazed windows now have a secure locking function leaving the window slightly ajar. Do this in at least two rooms to create a through draught, which means your clothes will not go mouldy in the wardrobe.

3. Draught Proof and Insulation

There is a crucial difference between drafts and ventilation. Ventilation is a friend whilst drafts are your enemy. Draughts will chill your feet and give you neck ache, so take a look around the home now and draught proof your letter box, door frames, wooden window frames and any other place that might let in that cold North wind. There are still plenty of grants around for cavity and loft insulation. Take advantage of these and cut up to 25% off your heating bill.

4. Check your Boiler

Plumbers love the onset of icy weather almost as much as car body repair shops. It is probably the most profitable time of year. Beat the rush by checking your boiler works now. Remember, you should run the boiler for half an hour once a month throughout the summer months to make sure that the pump does not seize.

5. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine

This phrase applies so well to your home. Walk around the outside and quickly apply primer and paint to any bare wood that you find. It may be too late to have the outside of your house decorated before winter, but applying a small amount of paint now will avoid rot setting in through the cold and wet winter months.

Once all of this is done, just put your feet up and count the days to Christmas!