How to Get Your Home Ready for Winter in 5 Steps

It is easy to forget about the harsh months of winter when you are enjoying glorious summer days. However, waiting too long to prepare your home for the cold is not wise as it could cost you more money and leave you in considerable discomfort once the first cold snap comes.

Getting the house ready for winter does not need to take too long or cost a lot of money. With a few adjustments and preparations, your home will soon be ready to handle anything winter throws at it. Here are some quick tips to get you started:

Heating System Checkup

Do not wait for the first cold front before checking to see if your heating system works. Heating companies receive a deluge of calls during this time and will not get to yours for a couple of days. Instead, have your heating system checked and tested during the fall.

If you want to upgrade, consider a slimline wall mounted electric radiator from BestElectricRadiators, Elnur Ecombi, or Ecostrad iQ. BestElectricRadiators’ range includes products that you can turn on and off or adjust thermostat settings no matter where you are. With this remote operating capacity, you never need to worry about forgetting to turn the heating on or off.

A few taps on your smartphone screen on a special app are all it takes to maintain control of your home’s heating system.

Most heating companies offer an early bird special rate for people who want heating system maintenance, upgrades, or replacement before their busy season. Take advantage of it by being among the first clients to ensure their heating system is ready for winter.

Chimney Check

If you use a fireplace, hire a chimney sweeping company to ensure your fire outlet is clean and unobstructed. Lighting a fire is dangerous when you are unsure if the chimney is working properly. Carbon monoxide will remain in the house and cause fatalities. To be 100% sure of avoiding this, install carbon monoxide monitors in your home as they will warn you the levels rise above normal.

Check your smoke detectors’ batteries and test them to ensure everything is walking. Unattended fireplaces cause many devastating house fires without smoke detectors to provide early warning.

Smoke detectors give you a chance to extinguish the fire or evacuate your family to safety. Ensure that you have a functional fire extinguisher stored near the fireplace and that all householders know how to use it.

Check Gutters and Drainage

The leaves change their colors and fall as winter approaches, arguably one of the most beautiful sights to behold. However, leaves can become a nuisance when they get trapped in your gutters or drains.

Right before the onset of winter, clean your gutters and drains. Gutters filled with leaves cannot drain properly when it rains or snows and will get damaged. Blocked drains are a challenge to deal with in the dead of winter, so ensure nothing is obstructing them.

During spring and summer, prune any trees near your house to keep their branches away from the structure. This prevents a lot of leaves from going into the gutters and clogging them up.

Do an Energy Audit

Your energy bill will go up during the winter because the heating system is in use. However, there are ways to cut it by using energy-efficient technology. Start with lights and check that each one is fitted with an energy-efficient lightbulb.

They come in different wattages, and you should choose a dimmer one for communal areas, such as the hallways and staircases. These lights tend to burn all night, they do not need to be exceptionally bright.

Set timers for exterior lights so that they only burn at specified times. Alternatively, consider motion sensor exterior lights that come on only if triggered by movement.

Final Preparations

Plastic furniture left outside when it is cold becomes brittle. Wrought iron may get rusty from the rain and snow. Wood can rot if the damp seeps in. If you do not have space to store garden and patio furniture indoors, ensure it is covered.

Dig through your garage and have your snow blower and snow shovel handy. Check that your snow blower is working and get it repaired if necessary. Avoid being caught unaware when the first snowfall of the season arrives.

Julie Higgins
Author
Julie is a Staff Writer at momooze.com. She has been working in publishing houses before joining the editorial team at momooze. Julie's love and passion are topics around beauty, lifestyle, hair and nails.