10 Best Tips On When & How To Prepare Your Home For Winter

10 Best Tips On When & How To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Get ready for lower temperatures.

1. Winter-proofing your home

We all know what winter brings; cold weather, big bills and the worry about whether your old boiler will see it through this year. With all that in mind, it's worth spending some time getting your home ready for the cold weather this year.

Our tips can help you reduce the risk of emergencies occurring this winter and improve the energy efficiency of your home, which could make a big difference to your bills this year.

2. Investing in your insulation

Did you know that the roof can allow up to 25% of your home's heat to escape? And even if your loft is already insulated, it's still wise to make sure it has the recommended depth of between 250mm and 270mm before winter arrives.
Loft insulation can last up to 40 years and would probably only cost a few hundred pounds to install, meaning that it will pay for itself many times over.

3. Cleaning the gutters

You might not consider cleaning the gutters to be a fun weekend activity. However, now is an excellent time to clear the debris that heavy rain and wind left behind.
A wide range of water-related issues, from creeping dampness to significant leaks, are avoided by good drainage.
It's a brilliant idea to maintain your gutters properly for insurance reasons as well.

In order to prevent water damage to your home when the weather changes, remove those leaves and sticks.

4. Check the pressure in your boiler

Before it gets chilly, check the pressure in your boiler. Your boiler will run best at between 1 and 1.5 bar, so check the gauge at the front of your boiler.
If you have to modify your boiler pressure, check out our practical guide on fixing boiler pressure problems.

5. Your radiators need your attention

Radiators that have been bled will not only provide more heat, but they will also cost less to heat.
While the weather is warm, it is quick, simple, and mainly disruption-free to do.
Therefore, if your radiators are hot at the bottom and cold at the top, follow the steps in our blog on how to bleed your radiators to avoid a chilly and expensive winter.

6. Prepare your Home for Winter with Boiler Servicing

An annual boiler service can prevent minor issues from getting worse.
Additionally, it makes sure that you have heating during the cold winter months. Make sure to complete it during the warmer months to help minimise the inconvenience of having no hot water or heating throughout the winter.

You can schedule a service appointment with one of our gas-safe engineers by calling us on 0808 164 2892 or by visiting us online at PlusHeat.co.uk

7. Wrap your pipes

You can get inexpensive insulated tubing from the majority of DIY stores and install it yourself.
Before winter arrives, wrap those pipes in warm materials to avoid freezing and heat loss.

Pay close attention to the lines that transport hot water from your boiler or storage cylinder to your hot water taps.

They can be found under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, close to your boiler (between the boiler and hot water tank) or in airing cupboards.

8. Make Doors and Windows draught-proof

You might still lose heat via your doors and windows even if your heating operates effectively and your roof is well-insulated.
An inexpensive and efficient approach to winter-proof your entrances is using draught excluders.
Use caulk or a cheap DIY window insulation kit to fill in the gaps around your windows.

9. Servicing your Roof

Leaks and flooding can result from cracked or missing roof tiles.

Additionally, if poor maintenance results in weather damage, your home insurance may be rendered void.
Don't wait till winter to find out what occurs.

Try to catch problems early from the ground or an adjacent property.

10. Prepare your Home for Winter: Make a Plan B

Do you know where to find your stopcock?
In the (rare) event that your pipes do freeze, you'll want to avoid allowing pressure to build up behind the obstruction and cause a pipe to break.
So make sure you know where your stopcock is and that you have easy access to it. It's the tiny tap or lever on your copper pipes that you may frequently find underneath your sink.

Read our helpful instructions to find out more about maintaining your boiler.