Get Your Home Winter Ready With These 7 Quick Jobs
The last bank holiday before Christmas is fast approaching and we can already feel the evenings slowly getting darker before the summer is even over!
So, we’ve put together a few quick jobs you can do over the long weekend to get your home winter ready and save you feeling the freeze.
1. Bleed Your Radiators
A really quick job and one you can do yourself without costing you anything. It’s a great time of year to bleed your radiators and make sure they are in top shape.
Not only will this ensure your radiators keep you cosy and warm this winter, but it could also help save you money on your energy bills by improving the efficiency of your radiators.
If you’ve never done it before, have a look at our video below to get you started.
2. Clean Your Radiators
If you notice any cold spots at the bottom of the radiators when the heating is on full, this could mean there is a build-up of sludge in the system.
This sort of build-up prevents the hot water circulating properly, stopping your radiators from getting hot enough when you need the heating the most.
Give your radiators a good clean or flush with the help of our guide.
3. Check Your Boiler
Book a boiler service before it’s too late! If there are any issues with your boiler it’s much better to find out now than in the middle of a snowstorm with no heating!
Always book your boiler service with a Gas Safe registered plumber.
4. Protect Your Pipes
Spend some time taking care of your pipes now and you won’t have to worry about them freezing later on in the year.
Insulating your pipes with foam lagging will also reduce heat loss from your hot water pipes. Ideal when a hot bath or steamy shower is calling after a frosty day at work.
Pipe insulation is easy to fit and can be found in any DIY store. If you have an external tap don’t forget to put a jacket on that too.
5. Seal Windows & Doors
Us Brits are known for draughty Edwardian homes that have a cold chill in the height of summer never mind winter!
Avoid any cold winds flying through the house by sealing your windows with caulk filler or sealant. Block the cold air making its way inside with draft excluders for doors, letterboxes and even dog and cat flaps!
6. Find Your Stopcock
It may sound obvious to some, but according to Direct Line insurance almost seven million of us in the UK don’t have a clue what a stopcock is and a quarter of us have never tried to find it.
Make sure this statistic doesn’t include you so you’re well prepared to turn your water off if a frozen pipe bursts mid-winter!
In most houses you’ll find the stopcock under the kitchen sink. But, this can differ from house to house so make sure to double check but you assume you know where it is.
7. Check Your Electrics
Another common problem in winter is electrical related which isn’t ideal during the darkest and coldest months of the year. Get a registered electrician to check your home’s fuse box and wiring before winter is here. Especially if you have an electric radiator like the Aruba below or electric underfloor heating system!
