Maintenance in the winter is one thing, but getting your home ready beforehand can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Although you’re probably thinking about Halloween right now, it can pay to be aware of what follows.
You might already have a list of things to get done but the tips below might jog your memory and help you realize there are other things you need to do to. The tips aren’t prescriptive either. All homes are different, whether in size or location, but you can bet there are things you can do now which will save you in the long run.
Get Your Home Ready For Winter With These Top Tips
Image Source
Fix What’s Broken
Get it done now when you have the cash. There are multiple reasons for doing this. The first is that tradesmen might charge a little bit more in the winter. Plumbers get a bit busier, for example, so you might have to pay for one on emergency hours.
Christmas is another huge stumbling block here. Can you afford to pay for big repairs when you have Christmas to pay for? It’s easier if the outgoings are more evenly spread. It makes sense to repair things that can save your energy bills too.
Heat leaking from your home isn’t something that should happen in the winter, which is why you might consider home window replacement. Getting a better door or ensuring your external pointing is up to scratch are other ways you can save yourself some money too.
External Maintenance
You might want to think about cutting the grass soon before it’s too late. This is weather dependent of course, but for many, winter means colder temperatures with the real possibility of either rain or snow.
You can’t cut your grass if it’s wet. It’s also worth clearing your guttering, to ensure the rain can properly drain. If it can’t, you could end up doing damage to your home with water forcing its way through, or ruining your guttering meaning you have to fork out for someone to either fix it or get it replaced altogether.
It could also be worth you trimming back any bushes or trees. If you think a tree is overgrown then the adverse weather could mean it coming down on your property or a neighbor.
Check Your Heating Systems
No matter what kind of heating you use, you’re going to want to ensure it’s working well before winter comes. You might not have used it for months, and even though you might not want to use it now it could be the right time to switch it on, so any issues can be sorted beforehand.
If you suspect something might be wrong, it could be the time to call a qualified heating engineer out to take a look at your boiler. It might be time to get a service done anyway, and it’s good practice to have them often.
While this is going on, you might want to check your carbon monoxide alarms. Remember, there should be one in every room where there is a fossil fuel burning system in place. When you’re about to turn everything back on it’s right to ensure they work, for you and your family.