5 Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Most homeowners spend more time in the house during the cold winter months. However, with the soaring costs of energy, winter may feel far more daunting than usual this year.

There are some things that you can do to prepare your home for the harsh winter months.

Whether it's methods of saving energy or jobs that you need to do before it becomes too cold, here are our tips on five things to do to prepare your home for winter!

Insulate The Roof

Did you know that you lose up to a quarter of your home's heat through the roof?

Getting loft insulation will help you to keep more heat in your home and will also help to keep your energy bills down.

Even if your roof is already insulated, it would be worth checking if your current insulation meets to recommended 250mm to 270mm depth before the harsh winter weather arrives.

If our insulation is fitted properly, it can last for up to 40 years. Since it usually costs around £285-£395 to install loft insulation, you can expect it to pay for itself many times over its lifespan. Plus, you'll also save a lot on your energy bills.

Lag Your Pipes

A burst water pipe on your property is your own responsibility, and winter is the time when you're most at risk of this. Uninsulated pipes in colder parts of the home, such as the loft or basement, are the most likely pipes to burst.

Insulating tubes are relatively cheap, and you can purchase these from most DIY shops. It's important to wrap your pipes before winter comes. This will prevent the pipes from freezing and will also prevent heat loss.

Make a particular effort to insulate the pipes that take hot water from your cylinder or boiler and transport the water to your hot water taps.

These pipes are usually located next to your boiler, in your airing cupboard, and under your bathroom and kitchen sinks.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters have a job to do, and that's getting rainwater away from your roof and down the drain. If your gutters are blocked with dirt, leaves, or other debris, they won't be able to work effectively.

You will be able to identify issues with your gutters if rainwater starts running down the side of your house or if you notice some discolouration on your property walls. Most of the time, blockages are caused by leaves, twigs, moss, or bird's nests.

Water build-up can lead to damp and mould. With this in mind, it's important to ensure your guttering is working properly so rainwater can be effectively drained away from your home.

Keeping on top of gutter maintenance is also important for insurance purposes, so there are many reasons why you should clear your gutters before the weather gets too cold.

Get a Smart Meter

A smart meter is a great idea before the cold winter weather hits. A smart meter prevents you from having to input meter readings. Plus, it also allows you to keep a good eye on the amount of energy you're using and where you're using energy the most in real-time.

This will allow you to identify which appliances are using up the most energy in your home so that you can alter your usage accordingly and save some money.

Smart meters don't cost anything to install, and all energy suppliers will be required to offer a free smart meter by the year 2025. If you haven't been offered a smart meter just yet, get in touch with your energy provider to request one.

Bleed Your Radiators

Bleeding your radiators regularly will help to ensure your home stays warm and your heating system works efficiently. Air can get into your heating system and prevent your radiators from being able to fill with water properly.

If you find that your radiators are cooler at the top, this is a sign that they need to be bled. Bleeding your radiators will help release all of the trapped air.

Bleeding your radiators is quite a simple job that you can complete very quickly. Locate the bleed valve on your radiator and use a bleed key to turn it anticlockwise.

This will start the process of releasing air from the radiator. When all of the air has been released, water will start to drip out. At this point, you can then close the valve.