As the days start to get shorter and you start to feel a chill in the air, it’s time to start giving some thought to your home and what you can do to prevent it from having a disaster when the winter weather finally hits.
Winter can be a harsh month, especially for homeowners who aren’t prepared for the more challenging conditions that can be so common in the UK. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way; if you prepare for the coming season, you are unlikely to have any problems at all.
Here are some simple things you can do to avoid disaster this winter:
Clean Out the Drains and Gutters
If you do nothing else to prepare your home for the coming winter, do this. If you leave your drains and gutters clogged with dirt and leaves, then when the rain starts to really come down in buckets, they will overflow and potentially cause leaks to your property and cracks in your foundations. For the sack of half and hour clearing them out, it really isn’t worth the risk!
Have Your Central Heating System Checked
If you don’t want to be left feeling the cold and risk having damp grow or your pipes freeze over, then you really do need to check your central heating is in good working order before you really need it. As a minimum, you should have your boiler serviced, and if you haven't already, turn on your heating for a test run. If it isn’t working, calling a water leak detection company and a plumber out is probably a good idea, depending on what you believe the issue is. Do this now, and you won’t be left without heat when you need it most - in deepest darkest winter.Sweep the Chimney
If you have a fireplace and you actually use it during winter, you need to either call in a chimney sweep or clean the flue yourself. If you don’t, the accumulation of dirt and debris that’s built up since last winter could cause the wrong kind of fire and leave you with a disaster on your hands!Give Your Pipes Some Protection
One of the most common winter home disasters has to be the frozen pipe. When temperatures drop, it is very common for pipes to freeze and then burst, causing all manner of problems for the homeowner. Luckily, it isn’t too difficult to avoid frozen pipes; all you have to do is cover them with a layer of lagging to keep them insulated from the elements.Get Insurance
If you don’t already have a home insurance policy, or you do have a policy, but it doesn’t cover the common causes of winter-related damage, then it is probably in your interests to change that and take out a policy that will cover you for any possible disaster that could befall your home this winter. Sure, it won’t prevent the worst from happening, but it’ll ensure that you can put any problems right fast!