10 Ways to Prepare for the Winter Days Ahead
The recent drop in temperature has reminded us that the heatwaves are behind us, and we are moving into the colder months. We, at Jigsaw, like to be proactive and helpful so we have drawn up the following list of activities which we recommend you follow to get your homes and properties ready for winter.
1.Clean or even replace gutters.
When gutters and downpipes are blocked with leaves and debris, rainwater may not drain properly. When water overflows from the guttering, it can cause water damage on both the interior and exterior of your home as well as potentially cause roof damage and leaks. All of these can end up costing homeowners thousands of pounds. We recommend cleaning gutters at least twice a year, especially in rural locations where there are more trees. If damage occurs, replacement of gutters is recommended.
2. Clear any leaves or debris around drains or soakaway.
One small blockage can cause water to back up and flood the surrounding area, or even back up your system inside your house which nobody wants!
3. Clean and put away all garden furniture till Spring.
Even weatherproof furniture should be covered to keep it in good condition ready for you to use when the warmer weather returns.
4. Chimneys cleaned/brushed and checked for draw before lighting on the first cold snap.
Why is it important to clean your chimneys before lighting any fires? Keeping your chimney clean helps prevent home fires—it's as simple as that. When you burn a fire in your fireplace, two things happen: Chimney soot builds up, as well as creosote, which is a heavy, thick, oily residue.
You can perform this home maintenance yourself, but most homeowners enlist the help from a professional as it's a potentially dangerous and very dirty job!
5. Check and service boilers and heating.
Having an annual boiler service is important, not only from a safety point of view, (*according to the Department of health, 4000 people go to A&E each year with carbon monoxide poisoning), but it will also enable you to identify any potential faults early before they become costly.
As for heating, you don’t want to wait until it’s really cold only to find out that there’s a problem…
6. Repair cracked, or uneven driveways/footpaths
Any standing water will freeze with the first frost which creates more damage and hazards.
7. Walk round your house both internally and external looking for any gaps that will allow your heat to escape.
With the current rise in energy prices, you really want to avoid any loss of heat where possible.
8. Order firewood if you have open fire or log burner.
Again, getting prepared ahead of when you need heat, is sensible. Anything can happen as the fuel crisis has shown, and you don’t want to be cold this winter.
9. Clear your garage ready for putting your car away from the wintery mornings.
Avoid the need to scrape frozen windscreens if you can. Time is one of our most precious resources after all!
10. Finally make a batch of Chilli, curry or stew.
Enjoy relaxed in front of your fire, nice and cosy for the winter evenings.
*Sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-sends-4-000-people-to-a-e-each-year
