Lag Pipes to Reduce Heat Loss Over Winter
Lagging your pipes, particularly plastic pipes, will help to reduce heat loss from your system and prevent them getting too cold and bursting. Buy foam insulation tubes and slip them over the pipes (expect to pay around £20 for a three-bedroom house, with annual savings of £3 to £7 on energy bills)
Get your Chimney Swept
Ideally, this is a task that’s best done before the winter starts, as harsh cold weather can result in serious damage to the chimney masonry.
Check Gutters, Downpipes and Gullies
Get your Boiler Serviced
A recent Worcester Bosch survey revealed that 18% of homeowners believe that servicing is unnecessary until a boiler breaks down. But ideally, your boiler should be serviced annually to make sure that it’s still safe to use and works efficiently.
Insulate your Loft Space
If you haven’t already insulated this space, or you have poorly performing insulation that has slumped over time, tackling this project will pay quickly pay dividends over the colder months. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that topping up loft insulation from 120mm to 270mm could save around £12 a year.
Replace Slipped Roof Tiles and Slates
Making roof repairs will prevent leaks that can cause deterioration to the structure. If there are only a few slipped or missing tiles or slates, they can usually be refixed or replaced fairly easily. However, on shallow pitched roofs, common on 1970s properties, the underfoot can start to sag, diverting rainwater down wall cavities. In this case, the lower layers of underfoot may need to be stripped and replaced.
Check Outside Lights are Clean and in Working Order
Give the lighting a good cleaning (shutting off the power to the unit first). Check that the bulbs are still working, and if they are not, swap over to an LED light. If your solar lights are covered with snow or winter debris, you’ll need to remove this to allow them to operate properly.
Fix Broken Gates and Fences
This will prevent any further damage during freezing winter conditions and helping to secure your property against burglaries (while keeping pets safely within the garden.
Draughtproof Windows and Doors
According to the Energy Saving Trust, 46% of us still need to tackle this job. The charity estimates that a good draught-proofing job for the whole house will cost between £85 and £276 for materials and professional insulation.
Avoid starting a Loft Conversion or Roofing Projects
A lot of customers try to do their loft conversion over the winter period and while it’s possible to protect from the rain, it’s very difficult to protect workers from heat loss. Avoid roof projects, as fibreglass doesn’t work in low temperatures.
After the Winter is over if you decide it ii time to move on hopefully there won’t be any maintenance linked surprises and we can help you find your next dream home!
