Preparing your home for the colder months
Making sure your home is ready for the winter months is key to minimising the effects of the cold weather on ourselves and our homes.
The following months will be challenging for many of us, with the cost of living and soaring energy bills. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips to help you feel equipped over the chilly season as well as ways you can be a little more sustainable.
Bleed your radiators
If you feel your radiators aren’t heating properly or they are warmer at the bottom than they are at the top, then it’s the right time to bleed your radiators. This allows any trapped air inside to release allowing them to run efficiently. Not only will this improve the heating in your home, it relieves any strain on your boiler which in turn will cost you less money.
This is a quick and easy task that should only take a few seconds. There are lots of useful guides and videos out there including this one from British Gas. Make sure your central heating system is turned off and the radiators are cool before starting.
Remember to check if you have a pressurised system as you will have to do one radiator at a time and re-pressurise as you go. Take a look at this guide from Eon on checking your boiler pressure.
Protect your pipes
With winter in full swing, many of us are being infrequent with our heating this year. Our pipes are more likely to freeze without being warm or even burst causing leaks. When we hit spells of freezing temperatures it’s good too:
- Leave your heating running at a lower temperature.
- Run your taps regularly, if your tank or pipes are located inside a cupboard open the door to let the warmer air circulate around your home.
- Ensure you are booking your yearly boiler service to keep your system working as it should.
Home Insurance
Contents insurance is designed to help protect your possessions. No matter how careful you are, there’s always a risk that your belongings could be broken, damaged or stolen. As a landlord, we do not cover your contents as part of your tenancy agreement.
We offer residents with discounted home insurance policies which can cover you from any winter-related damage.
Some other tips:
- Use draft excluders to prevent chilly air flowing through your home.
- Regularly check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This time of year is the most dangerous with decorations present which increases the risk of fire. Carbon monoxide poisoning increases too due to heating systems being used. We like the idea of “Test It Tuesdays” as a reminder to check your alarms.
If you are concerned about the cost of keeping warm, visit our Cost of Living resources page which shows local and national organisations with schemes that can help.