The weather is changing, daylight savings finishes on 7 April, and now is a good time to pay attention to home maintenance to get you through the winter! Here's our top tips to help you keep on top of things.
1. Clean out gutters and replace any broken sections. Clogged gutters can cause interior flooding and external damage. If you have someone do your gutters for you, have them check the roof for potential leaks too.
2. Check for drafts. Heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use. Weather-stripping is a simple and cost-effective way to keep heating costs down. Install thermal drapes too.
3. Pack away outdoor furniture. It may be meant for outdoors, but storing it away under a waterproof cover or in a shed will extend its life.
4. Change filters for ventilation systems/heat pumps. Clogged filters means systems have to work harder and will increase your heating bills.
5. Book in a chimney cleaner and order firewood.
6. Check and change fire alarm batteries. At least once a year you should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors are working correctly.
7. Update your emergency kit for power cuts. Winter storms inevitably bring power outages, so be prepared with candles, torches, gas camp cooker, spare batteries, etc. in an easily accessible location.
8. Check heaters are in working order.
9. Trim the trees. Get rid of any overhanging branches that may come down in a storm and damage your home.
10. Get out the woolly blankets and winter duvets for an airing, ready for the cooler months.
