Winter is coming, and that means you need to get your home in tip top condition to cope with the weather to come – particularly as much of the UK is on course for a predicted very cold and wet winter. Are you prepared?
Must do’s
It’s always a clever idea to give your home a winter once-over before the weather worsens too much, preventing any nasty surprises. After all, “an unexpected storm or sudden boiler breakdown can quickly turn into an expensive ordeal”, so why run the risk?
Top tips to make sure your home is as protected as possible from the winter weather that’s on the way.
Check your boiler and heating system.
Your boiler should be serviced on a regular basis, so if you haven’t done so already this year, now’s the time to get it checked by a registered plumber. If your boiler is old and inefficient you should have it replaced and in some cases, this could be done free!!
Roof tiles and loft.
Give your roof a visual check to look for any cracked, missing or loose tiles, and if you spot any damage, make sure to replace them. A damaged roof could be hazardous in high winds or under mounds of snow. When in your loft next make sure your insulation is up to the winter ahead, if not then get it replaced urgently. Once again if you receive certain benefits this can be done free of charge.
Keep the central heating on.
You may think it’s cheaper to turn the heating off when you’re not there, but you’ll want to keep it on a minimum level at all times throughout the winter months (at least 15C is recommended) to help prevent pipes freezing.
Insulate pipes and water tanks
Another way to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate those in exposed areas, and the same applies to water tanks.
Can we assist.
Check on this site to see if you are entitled to any benefits as there are many grants that go unclaimed every year. It doesn’t take long and could save you thousands.