Tips to Get Your House Ready For Winter

With winter fast approaching, Autumn is the best time to start preparing your house for the colder months. Don’t forget the damage a long, cold and wet winter can do to your house if you are not prepared. Here is our Check List to help make sure you’re prepared!

Inside

Up to 40% of the heat escaping from your home in the winter is from uncovered windows. Use heavy, lined curtains that extend below the window frame to insulate the window and keep warmth in.

If you heat the room you are using to 68-72 degrees this will be comfortable in addition to keeping your electricity use down.

Close off any rooms that are not in use.

Let the sunshine in. If you have South facing windows, open up the curtains to let the sun heat up your house.

Be sure to replace or repair any broken window locks or latches. While doing this make sure all windows open and close properly, in case of fire.

  • Make sure all smoke detectors are working with fresh batteries.
  • Test your security alarm especially if you have detectors on windows.
  • Make sure all external entrances are lit by lights connected to motion sensors.

It’s a good idea to have spare batteries, flashlights, matches and candles in the house in case of electrical black-outs.

Outside

It is very important to consider what outdoor jobs should be done on which days Ensure all ladder jobs are completed on a day when the weather is nice and the ground is dry.

A well insulated house can use as much as 45% less energy than a house without insulation! Consider installing ceiling insulation or topping up old thinning insulation.

Cold air entering from cracks and gaps can account for 15-25% of heat loss in your home! Use weather stripping around doors and windows, gap filler for cracks in walls or a simple door snake will help.

Autumn brings color to any garden but it also brings leaf foliage in futters. Clear debris and check for rust and blockages, which can cause flooding. It is best to do this a few times during Autumn. Consider replacing old gutters sooner rather than later because it can result in damage inside your house.

Check on the exterior of the house for any signs of movement.

Insulate external hot water pipes with lagging (insulation tape) to reduce heat loss from the hot water tank to the taps.

Get your heater serviced professionally to ensure it runs efficiently. Keep heaters free of dust and clean filters regularly.

If you have open fires throughout your house be sure to have them inspected and cleaned by a professional.

Prepare your pool for the cold. Test chlorine levels, scrub walls and floors, vacuum the entire pool and empty he pump’s leaf basket, clean the filter and lastly add a secure pool cover to keep debris out.

Make sure all gtes open and close properly before you are caught in the rain.

  • Autumn is the best time to fertilize your lawn to ensure it remains healthy during the colder months.
  • Rake up fallen leaves and debris to prevent suffocation and bare spots on your lawn.
  • Prune shrubs and trim back tree branches away from the house and have dead branches or trees removed.