Your home has to do a lot of hard work over the winter, so it makes sense that you should do a little to help it. The colder your winters, the more important it is that you spend some time doing some basic maintenance before the cold snap arrives. Most checks can be carried out very quickly, while others will mean getting out into the cold and doing a bit of hard work. However, your home is your sanctuary, and protecting your home over the winter also means protecting yourself and your loved ones. Here are some top tips for winter prepping your property.
Get Cozy
While water and power issues are important to check, the main aspect of winter to prepare for is the cold. Check all of your doors and windows for any gaps, and fill those gaps as needed. You want as little of the cold outside to get indoors and as little of your indoor heat to be escaping outdoors. If you have loft insulation, make sure it’s all in place and doesn’t need any replacing before it starts getting too cold. There are plenty of ways to keep your home cozy this winter, and insulation is an important step you don’t want to forget!
Protect Your Pipes
If your pipes freeze, then you run the risk of having burst pipes when you really don’t need them. Use thermal insulation to wrap around your pipes, especially those that are more likely to freeze. Any pipes that run outdoors need more protection than the pipes in your warm bedroom.
Gutters and Pipes
Water is one of the main concerns over the winter, so you need to ensure that your wastewater and any rainfall is going to run away cleanly and quickly. Get the ladders out and spend some time clearing your gutters and your drains of any leaves or mud. Ignore this task, and you could be dealing with excess water that causes permanent damage to your home.
Power Cut Prep
Power cuts can be lethal in the winter, so always do some prep and maintenance on your emergency generator. Having a generator should always be a priority, but don’t forget that it will need to be looked after. Look for local companies that have established their name not just as sellers but who can also install, maintain, and repair your generator for you. Names like the always popular Generac are excellent as a starting point. Don’t forget to have a power cut emergency kit prepped in advance that includes a wind-up torch and a radio that’s battery-powered.
Bleed Your Radiators
Winter prep is all about making sure that you stay warm while your home stays protected. Bleeding your radiators is essential if you want to maintain a steady temperature during the coldest months. Don’t assume that you have to call out an expensive plumber to help either. There are endless online guides taking you through the process step by step, and you can watch YouTube videos or read those guides at your own speed.
It doesn’t take a lot of hard work to prepare your home for winters. However, the more preparation that you do before the coldest weather hits, the more you can sit back and relax over the winter, safe, secure, and warm in your home.
