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Tips for preparing your home for the winter

December 1, 2015 04:05 by author

When you notice the temperature dropping and the night's drawing in, it's safe to say that winter has finally arrived. To make sure that you've prepared your home for the cold winter months here are some useful tips to keep you warm inside when there are icicles outside and ward off any potential problems.

Guttering

Wefitweglaze

It's essential to keep your guttering clean so that rain storms or melting snow can drain off effectively.

However, it s all too easy for gutters to become clogged with fallen leaves and other autumn and winter debris so making sure that they're kept clean and clear can save you problems in the long run.

Draught-proofing

Greenhome

With energy costs so high these days the last thing anyone wants is for heat to be escaping through badly fitting doors and windows.

You don't need to go to the expense of having new units fitted as some simple draught excluder tape around doors and the clever use of blinds or curtains can easily be just as effective.

Loft insulation

jjcrump

Of course hot air always rises and this means that the majority of the warmth in your home will try and escape through your roof.

This can be a real problem in older properties with large loft space that's only used for storage rather than being converted into living space. Thankfully simply by laying good quality loft insulation you can keep the warmth of your central heating inside your home whilst also making increasing your eco-friendly credentials.

Loose slates

Angelroofing

Loose slates can be dangerous to passersby and also lead to holes in your roof which can cause big problems indeed.

A simple visual check is normally all that's needed to make sure everything's in order but if you do spot anything that needs doing or have a roof that you can't really get a good look at it might be worth calling in the professionals to give it a quick check and save money in the long run.

Ice problems

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Really cold weather can often mean problems associated with ice, whether that means frozen outdoor pipes or paths and walkways that could become dangerous to navigate.

Lagging outdoor pipes at ground level is a simple DIY job that can save you having to call out expensive trades-people when things go wrong. Likewise, making sure that you have a good shovel and a generous store of salt and grit to sprinkle on icy paths can be a very sensible precaution to take.

All in all winter can be a lot of fun and bring out the child in everyone as long as you take a few simple steps to make sure that your home and everyone in it is winter-proofed.