With winter soon upon us, now is the time to quickly assess any stop-gaps and quick fixes that can be applied to your home before the weather seriously deteriorates.

Below are five tips on how you can check your home will brave this winter. Please take all steps safely and consult professionals if you are unsure.

1. Check your roof

Whether you’re able to assess your roof manually, or need someone to do it for you, it’s always a good idea to check it for slipped tiles and damage before winter takes hold. If inspecting it from the outside is not an option, see if you can assess it from the attic of your property. Alternatively, you could consider using a drone to see if anything needs addressing on your roof (although we recommend that you check with local guidelines and legislation as to how you go about this and whether it is permitted in your area).

Related post: How To Stop Snow Coming Through Your Home’s Ceiling

2. Have your boiler serviced

Irrespective of your boiler’s age, it is good practice to get it serviced annually. Use this time to get your boiler serviced by a gas safety engineer to ensure it is in working order and as efficient as possible. Having a full-service history for the boiler helps when it comes to selling your home, as the functionality and health of the boiler will interest every potential buyer.

3. Assess your path

Before the weather gets worse, take a look at high-traffic areas such as your front path and/or steps to check they are in a good state to cope with a harsh winter. Whilst this may seem a tad extreme, it’s better to have faults addressed sooner rather than in the midst of winter, as cracks and damage will be vastly accelerated by poor weather. Apply this to decking and garden paths that are used around the exterior of the property.

4. Repointing is vital

Repointing is the process whereby the old mortar is taken out from between the exterior bricks of your home and replaced with new mortar. This prevents water ingress and rising damp. Whilst this is the wrong time of year to have a total repointing job carried out, you can assess where there are areas that can be fixed short-term to cover your home for the winter. Do this with the view of having the work carried out by a professional extensively next spring. You can buy mortar repair from most DIY shops, but please be advised that this should be used to carry out small repairs and only for the short-term.

5. Bleed your radiators

If your boiler doesn’t require a service, improve the thermal efficiency of your home by bleeding radiators. This will improve the pressure within your central heating system and ensure your home is operating more efficiently. Take care when bleeding the radiators and consider consulting YouTube to demonstrate how this should be done. Cover any carpers or flooring with sheets and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little mucky. Radiator water can be a little dirty, especially if it hasn’t been bled in some time.

Related post: How to Keep Your Home Warm for No Extra Cost This Winter

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