Is your Home Ready for Winter? DIY jobs that could save £000s

After the St. Jude storm last week and already lots of wet and windy weather setting in this week – Brrr! – it really is beginning to feel like winter out there and it’s often the time when your home needs the most DIY and maintenance work as it takes a bettering from the elements and we all call for more heat and hot water indoors.  During autumn, before winter sets in is the best time to do this.

Luckily there are lots of property maintenance checks that you can do before the bad weather really takes hold that can help to avoid expensive emergency call outs.  Here are the top tips from the experts to help protect your home.

Turn off pipes to outside water taps

Garden tap piping is usually linked to an indoor feed (often located under your kitchen sink). If the water inside the pipes freezes the problem can cause a leak inside your home when the weather warms up again. The average water claims costs £1,347, but can run into tens of thousands of pounds, according to figures from Saga.  You should also confirm the location of your stopcock, so you can turn off the water in an emergency.

Insulation

Check the lagging on all pipes and cisterns in unheated areas like your loft. Pre-formed tubular insulating material is the best and readily available from most DIY stores. Repair any dripping taps.  Ensure your loft has adequate insulation - the Energy Saving Trust recommends using 270mm of insulation, a loft installed with insulation of this thickness could save you about £150 per year on your energy bill.

Leave the central heating on low

Even when you are away from home, keep central heating ticking over at a low temperature on normal timer hours to avoid frozen pipes. Ensure that the temperature in your home doesn’t drop below five degrees and leave the loft hatch slightly open so warm air can enter the loft and prevent your pipes freezing

Check chimneys before having a fire

A fireplace can get blocked and lighting a new fire can be smoky and dangerous. If you have a gas ‘coal effect’ fire, see the manual for DIY checks, or contact the National Grid who give free help and advice. It is vital that you also get your chimney swept every year as not having a certificate from your sweep to say that this has been done can invalidate your

home insurance.

Draught proofing

Save money with simple insulation and keep the winter bills down. Heating your home to compensate for chilly draughts can put up to 30% on your energy bills! For doors make sausage-shaped draught excluders, reduce heat loss through windows by covering with cling film or sheets of window plastic from a DIY shop, and stick weather stripping tape on door frames.

‘Bleed’ radiators
Getting rid of air bubbles in radiators can help you save money as it ensures your home is heated more cost-effectively.

Check guttering

If you can safely reach it, clear guttering of leaves so they don’t block up and cause water to leak onto walls and windows.

Tidy your garden
Cut back any branches from trees and bushes that might break windows or bring down fences in bad weather.

Get your boiler checked
An annual check by a qualified engineer does cost money but it’ll avoid costly emergency call-outs in the middle of winter and keep bills down because your system runs more efficiently.

Don’t stress your heating system

In winter, it’s tempting to dry clothes quickly by putting them on radiators but this stops the heating system warming your home effectively. Avoid cranking up the thermostat higher than necessary. Keep costs down by washing on cooler temperatures – many modern washing detergents are just as effective at just 30°C –  and then rather than using the radiators, drying clothes on a clothes airer near but not ON the radiators.

You might also consider taking out a home emergency cover, which offers 24 hour home support for boiler breakdowns, 365 days a year. British Gas, Homeserve, EDF energy, Scottish Power and even your home insurance provider can offer plans costing just a few pounds a month but the peace of mind you have it covered is worth every penny.

Taking note of all the tips above should help ensure that your home is ready for winter and that you stay all warm and cosy and are hopefully never left without heating or hot water because there’s nothing worse than a cold wash in a cold house on a cold morning.  Like I said earlier – BRRRRR!!