It seems that winter finally made itself known last week with a bout of chilly weather we'd hoped to get away with. With that in mind, we've drawn on the expertise of the Met Office to compile a list of helpful recommendations on how to prepare your home for winter.
With a recent report by the Huffington Post citing that "over the years, 80% of us have suffered some sort of property damage as a result of wintry weather", winter can be a tough time for homeowners. However, there are some easy steps which might help to prevent the possible damage caused by cold weather.
Easy steps to protect your home from the cold
- Protect your water pipes with insulation (lagging), especially those on external walls, in lofts and unheated rooms.
- Keep your house warm by using the central heating for short periods of time throughout the day.
- Allow warm air into your roof space by keeping the loft hatch open.
- Keep the cupboard door under the sink open. This will let warm air move around the pipes.
- Keep room doors slightly open to allow the warm air to move around the house.
What to do if you're going on holiday
And what about those who are planning a winter holiday? Aside from regular weather updates sent by the Met Office straight to your phone, the following precautions are recommended:
- Leave your heating on for at least an hour a day while you are away from home.
- In severe weather, or if severe weather is forecast, you should leave your heating on day and night at the usual temperature setting.
- If you're going to be away for a while, consider turning off your inside stop tap and draining the system so there is no water in the pipes that could freeze.
- If high winds are forecast, make sure objects such as garden furniture or ladders are fully secured.
- In severe weather, consider asking a friend or relative to visit your home while you are away. This will mean that, if you do suffer a burst pipe, it will be detected as soon as possible. Make sure that they know where the stop tap or stopcock is located.
For other top tips and property news, keep an eye on our news section, or speak to a property expert.
