The sun is (hopefully) shining where you are, we are experiencing heatwaves left, right and centre, so why should we start thinking about ways to Winter-proof our homes now?
Because it is the sensible thing to do! Think about getting ahead before the Winter months arrive in order to save money on your energy during the colder months.
Winter-proof your home with these tips
Tidy your gutters
When the weather is glorious, consider getting a ladder out to go up and clear your gutters.
Over Winter, gutters get clogged up with leaves and other debris that can cause a blockage, damp or leaks.
Whilst this will not necessarily affect your energy bills, it will help to prevent any crisis that could cost a lot of money to rectify.
Insulate your house
Up to a quarter of your home’s heat escapes through the roof, therefore you need to make sure that it is well insulated.
The recommendation for loft insulation depth is 250mm to 270mm so it would be worth checking if it meets those requirements.
If not, then consider getting loft insulation fitted. It can cost a couple of hundred pounds to fit, however it should last up to 40 years.
Bleed those radiators
If you want to increase your radiator’s heat efficiency, then you need to bleed it.
If your radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom then you need to bleed it to release the air that is in the system. It is relatively easy to do too – check out this YouTube video from British Gas.
Check your boiler
Ensure that your heating works properly by checking your boiler and getting it serviced. Do it now to prevent any issues, rather than when an issue has reared its ugly head which could cost you a lot of money.
Invest in a dehumidifier
We have all been told that using a dryer is costly, however sometimes it is unavoidable especially during the colder months. Placing wet clothes on radiators is also not the best way to dry them – you can potentially create mould in your home due to the damp air and it is counter-intuitive by placing a barrier on the thing that is trying to heat the room.
Instead, consider investing in a dehumidifier to dry your clothes inside.
Draught proof your windows and doors
You can still lose heat through your doors and windows, especially if they have not been fitted properly.
It is so easy to fit draught excluders – check out this foam strip from Amazon that you can fit around the window casings
We are sure that there are other ways that you can Winter-proof your home – let us know if there are any more important ones that we really must do!
