How to Keep Your Home Cosy and Efficient in Winter
As the temperatures dip and the morning frosts become frequent, making sure your home is winter-ready is time well spent. Good house maintenance during the colder months can save you money on energy bills, prevent costly repairs, and keep your living space warm and comfortable. A little preparation goes a long way.
Check Your Heating System
Giving your boiler a health check is always a shrewd move. An annual service is not a legal requirement (unless you’re a landlord) but it’s worth arranging a visit from a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure your heating system is running efficiently. You can also carry out some of your own maintenance by checking radiators. A cold radiator, especially at the top, is often caused by trapped air, which prevents hot water from circulating. Bleed the radiator to release the air.
Sludge buildup can also block water flow, affecting multiple radiators. You can use a chemical flush or consult a professional to resolve the issue.
Inspect Windows & Doors
Properly sealed windows and doors help retain heat, reducing your energy bills. Examine seals around windows and doors for gaps where cold air could seep in. Replace worn-out weatherstripping and consider using draught excluders until any problems are fixed.
Monitor Ventilation
Condensation is most likely to occur when the weather is colder and there is less ventilation. Excess moisture can lead to damp, which is both unsightly and harmful to health. It’s important to keep ventilation systems clear to prevent condensation and use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms to manage moisture levels.
Protect Your Pipes
Sub-zero temperatures can lead to burst pipes which cause significant damage, leading to expensive repairs and inconvenience. To prevent this, you can insulate exposed pipes – using foam, rubber or heating tape – to prevent freezing and bursting. If you’re going away for a few days or more, leave your heating on low to stop pipes from freezing.
Clean Gutters & Check The Roof
Windy or stormy weather in autumn and early winter can lead to issues which are not immediately obvious until it’s too late. Gutters clogged with fallen leaves and damaged roofs can lead to water ingress and structural damage.
You can avert a great deal of headache by clearing leaves and debris from gutters to prevent blockages. Inspect your roof for loose tiles or damage that could lead to leaks.
Maintain Outdoor Areas
Keeping your outdoor space safe is just as important as keeping the inside warm. Keep a snow shovel handy and buy a bag of grit to prevent the build-up of ice and snow, reducing slip hazards. Trim overhanging branches that could snap under the weight of snow or ice and cause damage.
Ease Your Winter Headaches With A New-Build Home
In comparison to older properties, a new-build home from Erris Homes is a lot easier and less costly to manage in winter. Our properties are built with modern materials and technologies that make them more energy-efficient and weather-resistant. Our homes come with the latest heating systems – including energy-efficient Vaillant boilers – as well as excellent loft and wall insulation, intelligent double-glazed windows and doors, and enhanced pipe insulation for extra protection against freezing temperatures. We also include efficient ventilation systems and extractor fans, with trickle vents included to windows.
With an Erris home, you’ll find that many of your winter maintenance tasks are either reduced or unnecessary. Our homes also come with respective warranties, offering peace of mind in case any issues arise.
When the cold snap arrives, you can spend more time curled up on a cosy sofa and less time worrying about the big freeze!
To learn more about what Erris Homes can offer you, call us on 0113 531 0000, or email on info@errishomes.com
To find out the latest availability at Calder Mews and arrange an appointment to view, contact Bramleys on 01422 374811 or elland@bramleys.com