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7 easy ways to get your home ready for winter

As the days begin to get shorter and colder, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what you might need to do to protect your home in the winter months.

You don’t have to be an expert in DIY to prepare your home for the winter ahead; there are a number of easy steps you can take to make sure your home is as ready as possible.

We have put together a checklist to help you:

  1. Clear the gutters and drains

Clearing the gutters and drains is probably the last thing on your to-do list, but it’s an essential task.

Debris such as leaves and mud can block the drains and once it becomes too much, it can cause leaks into the roof and walls.

Making sure the gutters are clear from any possible build-up will minimise the risk of water damage.

  1. Get your boiler checked

Having no central heating over the winter period is the last thing you want to be dealing with.

So be sure to get your boiler serviced before the cold weather really kicks in.

Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when you book in your service – visit Gas Safe to find a certified engineer in your area.

You may also want to think about taking out boiler cover if you don’t already have it.

  1. Sweep the chimney

If you have a chimney, it’s important to maintain it.

Many of us underestimate the severity of chimney fires and therefore forget about cleaning out the chimney.

But chimney fires can occur fairly frequently during the winter months, so think about employing a professional to clean and take care of your chimney.

  1. Get insulation – and not just a scarf and gloves!

Typically, you can save at least £145 per year on your energy bills by having insulation installed, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Around a quarter of heat in your house is lost through the roof, so insulating the loft is a good place to begin. Cavity wall insulation is also worth considering.

If you’re worried about keeping the costs down, it might be worth looking into the grants and schemes provided by the government that subsidise insulation installation.

Around a quarter of heat in your house is lost through the roof, so insulating the loft is a good place to begin

  1. Protect your pipes

The best way to keep on top of pipes during the winter is to protect them with a foam layer (called lagging) which will help to prevent them freezing and bursting.

Be sure to also remove any vegetation that surrounds the pipes as this can also cause damage.

  1. Make sure you’re on the best energy deal

It always pays to check whether you’re on the cheapest energy tariff – you could save more than you think.

  1. Get covered

Making sure you’re covered for any winter-related damage is really important.

So, check that your home insurance policy offers adequate protection and that you’d be covered in the event of fire, flood, subsidence and theft.

You may also need to look into accidental damage or storm damage as most home cover policies won’t include this as standard, so you may need to add it on.

Here at Sherratt Builders we are really well placed to help you with some of this, like safety clearly your gutters, and even chimneys, advising and installing insulation, and protecting your pipes.

If things go wrong, we are experts in insurance claims and getting you and your home back on track. Going forward, if you want to talk about ways you can make your home energy efficient, just give us a call on 07786 268435.

Heat loss can also be a major contributor to a cold home. Get in touch with Sherratt Builders to find out more about our survey services and how we can help.

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