Thursday, September 22nd marked this year’s Autumnal equinox, which symbolizes the official end of summer. We are certainly starting to feel the chill of winter, with shorter days and longer nights, Halloween, Bonfire night and dare we say it… Christmas, all around the corner.
Although we don’t like to admit it, there’s probably a few of us who have already started our seasonal shopping, with mince pies making an appearance in our local high street shops, but how many of us thought about our homes this winter?
With the cold weather nearly upon us, we’ve decided to put together some advice for homeowners to stop the harsh weather from taking its toll on your property.
So, here’s our winter property checklist:
Outside your property…
Roof, gutters and drains
It’s a good idea to inspect your roof and replace any cracked tiles, and while you’re at it, make sure to clear your guttering and drains of any debris, overflowing gutters can lead to drenched walls and cause damage to your property.
External paving and decking
Make sure you check that any outside walk ways are well drained and avoid water collecting, in cold weather water on paving will freeze and could cause accidents.
Prune plants
This is the perfect time of year to prune plants and trees, as it’s when the summer growth cycle is over. Try to prune branches back to at least 3 feet from your house, this will prevent damage to your home’s exterior during high winds.
Indoors…
Boilers
If your boiler is old, consider having it serviced or replaced to avoid any winter breakdowns – snuggling down to watch a movie on the sofa is nowhere near as fun when it’s as cold inside, as it is outside.
Chimneys
Make sure your chimney is cleaned out and ready for the cold nights when you fancy warming up next to a roaring fire.
Don’t plan on using your fireplace? Why not consider fitting a chimney balloon? These are must haves for every energy-conscious home and are specially engineered to stop warm air going up your chimney and draughts coming back down.
Windows
Heating your home can be expensive and there is nothing more frustrating than that heat escaping out of your properties windows. Check that your property has double-glazing and if it doesn’t consider replacing it – it cuts heat loss through windows by 50 percent.
Curtains can also make a big difference to heat loss, use thermally insulated curtains for windows and outside doors to keep the warmth in.
Loft
Check that your insulation is in good condition and up to current standard, if not it’s time to replace it.
Energy Bills
As we’ve already mentioned, heating your home can be expensive but you could actually be paying more than you need to. If you’ve recently moved into a property and haven’t had time to think about your energy bills, you could find yourself on an expensive tariff.
Thankfully we’ve now partnered with uSwitch, the UK’s leading price comparison site, to help you find a better energy deal. To find out more speak to your estate agent about MoveIT and uSwitch today!
