How to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Now that we’ve arrived in October, it’s time to leave the cold, dark nights at the door and snuggle up to winter by making the home warm and cosy.

Whether you want to use the new season as an excuse to revamp your house or you need to make some essential updates to keep your home toasty through the coming months, there are plenty of ways to prep for winter. Here are some ideas to make sure you’re sorted right through to spring.

Invest in new windows and window dressings

Heat gain and loss are responsible for as much as 30% of residential energy used around the home. If you’ve noticed a draught around your windows, it might be that you need to update them, especially if you’ve got single glazing.

Another way to retain heat is to add curtains. By introducing an extra thermal layer, you’re more likely to be able to keep the heat in.

Get your boiler serviced

There’s nothing worse than finding there’s a fault with your boiler just as the weather turns chilly. If it’s been a while since you last had it serviced, now is a good time to call a professional out to check it over and let you know if there are any issues.

While most faults can be easily fixed, it might be that you’re advised to get a new boiler. If this is the case, consider your finances before you invest in a replacement.

Clear the gutters and drains

Keeping your gutters and drains clear is an important task and it’s worth tackling this before the days get shorter and you lose the daylight.

Gutters and drains are set close to the house, so if you leave moss and other debris to build up, it’s possible for leaks to appear in walls and in the roof, and this can mean you need to pay for costly repairs.

Invest in insulation

Adding insulation can not only keep your home warm; it can also save you money. According to the Energy Savings Trust, you can save as much as £145 annually on your energy bills by installing insulation.

A chunk of heat is lost through the roof, so it’s worth making sure your loft space is well insulated. Wall insulation can also be hugely beneficial.

Check the roof

The storms we’ve had in recent years have been intense. If you live in an area that was affected by the gale-force winds the country experienced earlier this year, the chances are you’ll have lost a tile or two on the roof.

It’s worth making roof repairs now before the weather changes and the cold temperatures arrive. Review any slipped tiles and make changes where you need to.