How to Prepare Your Property for Winter

As winter is approaching, it is very important to consider how you can best protect your property against the elements. If you do not take the proper precautions, you can leave your property open to costly damages and any occupants open to seasonal dangers. Look through the following examples of precautions you can take and see how you can best prepare your property for this winter.

Insulate your pipes

Preventing your pipes from freezing and bursting or losing any heat is incredibly important in winter. Lag exposed pipes to reinforce them, focusing on pipes coming from the boiler and pipes in unheated areas, by wrapping them up with insulated tubing. Insulated tubing costs little and you can buy it from most DIY stores to apply it yourself.

Clean your gutters

Ensure your gutters are clean and free of leaves or any debris to allow rain to be drained as well as melting snow. If gutters are filled with leaves or debris, water will leak into the roof and sides of your house. Cleaning gutters can also help prevent blockages and ice dams. Blocked and frozen gutters can crack or distort them which will require costly repairs.

Bleed your radiators

Regularly bleeding your radiators helps to keep your property warm. When air becomes trapped in your radiators it reduces their efficiency and your radiators then become cold at the top and warm at the bottom. Bleeding your radiators will help release the trapped air to even out the heat distribution.

•  Find the bleed valve on the radiator, found at the top
• Place a cloth on the floor to collect excess water
• Use a radiator key to turn the valve 180° anticlockwise and expect a hissing sound
• Close the valve when water begins to leak
• Turn the key clockwise to tighten the valve
• Check your boiler’s pressure valve and adjust if needed

Check your boiler

Make sure your boiler is working correctly by having it serviced annually and by checking the pressure gauge on the boiler. Follow the instructional manual as a guide for the pressure gauge. Addressing any known problems before winter is essential, as it gives time to contact your plumber or other professionals to fix them before the temperature drops significantly.

Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Winter becomes especially dangerous for fires and carbon monoxide poisoning due to the frequent use of heating. This makes it very important that your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in working order. Make sure to replace their batteries and confirm that they will function correctly throughout winter.

Maintain your outdoor areas

Keep your outdoor areas safe during winter, and protect outdoor property, by keeping your outdoor areas clean. Make sure your walkways are clear and store salt and sand to remove future snow and ice. Clear debris such as leaves, twigs and clutter to prevent them from freezing and then becoming slip hazards. Cover or store outdoor furniture indoors to prevent any weather damage and keep any firewood in waterproof storage.

Draught-proof your doors and windows

Inspect your windows and doors for gaps and seal them with caulk or window insulation, upgrade to double-glazed windows and install heavy curtains to help keep warmth in. Combining blinds and heavy curtains can make for an especially thick barrier to the cold. You also can install brush strips at the bottom of doors or purchase draught excluders which are cheap and effective as well as working for both doors and windows.

Check your home insurance policy

With the likelihood of property damage throughout winter, it is important to double check your insurance policy by ensuring it is up-to-date and covers what you need it to. If your insurance company offers specific insurance such as accidental damage protection or home emergency cover, it is worth considering it in winter when you are more vulnerable to unexpected physical damage.

In conclusion, winter is a dangerous season and requires the proper preparation to protect your property from many risks during this period. By insulating your pipes, cleaning your gutters, bleeding your radiators, checking your boiler, testing your detectors, maintaining outdoor areas, draught-proofing doors and windows and checking your home insurance policy you can put your property in a better position for winter.