How to get your home ready for the colder seasons

It was one of the hottest summers on record, but the cold is setting in and the nights are getting longer which can only mean one thing – winter is coming.

And while the change in weather is welcome to some, it can have an impact on your home and there are certain things you should think about doing to keep yours in good repair.

First on the list should be checking your heating to make sure that everything is in order. Is your boiler working as it should be? Are any of your radiators in need of bleeding? Does the boiler or any of the radiators need some dusting? Do these things before it gets too cold as it is best to find out now before we get into the thick of the colder months.

And speaking of your boiler, it is important to make sure that it is serviced and that the pilot light does not need restarting. Leaking carbon monoxide can be extremely dangerous and making sure the boiler is in working order can help keep you and your family safe.

And while it may sound obvious, do check all your windows around the house too. There is no point in heating up the home if you’ve left a window slightly ajar over the summer months – especially with the rising energy costs.

And head outside too because there are things to be checked there – including the guttering as that should really be empty to stop any damage being caused from things like a build-up of ice. And if you are the owner of a chimney, make sure that has been cleaned out too! Hiring somebody to do this is a great idea if you aren’t a pro yourself as they can also check the status of your roof while they are up there.

Your pipes around the house should be checked for any cracks or unusual damage too. The colder the weather gets, the higher the chance of the pipes freezing over, and the damage that can cause had a tendency to be on the costly side – and make sure you know where your stopcock is too as you’ll need to get straight to that if a pipe does burst.

And let’s not forget the dreaded damp! Keep your home as ventilated as you can throughout the winter months to stop that from becoming a problem.

One other thing to keep in mind too with the darker months is that there is a higher chance of an increase in crime rates in your area. So now is a great time to keep an eye on how safe and secure your home is and to check that you have the right kind of security to keep you, your family, and all your possessions safe.