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Is your home resistant to bleak autumn days and chilly winter nights? This checklist helps you keep your home in perfect health and prevents you from suffering from the cold!
Bleeding your radiators makes sure they operate more efficiently in the winter. If your radiator feels warm at the bottom but cold at the top, it is time to bleed it. Always start out with the radiators that are situated on the highest floor in your home. Also be sure to remove the dirt from the appliances: this helps prevent unpleasant odours.
Also have your heating installation checked. Soot deposits and a poor set-up considerably reduce heat efficiency, which means you end up using a lot more energy to reach the desired temperature.
During the summer months your chimney may see a build-up of dirt. This is why it is compulsory to have your chimney swept each year. A clean chimney helps you prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
A minor flaw in your roof may result in a persistent and costly insulation or moisture infiltration problem in winter. Give your roof a thorough check-over: can you spot any shifted or broken tiles or slates? Remove the moss from your thatched roof and clean the gutters. During autumn there is a build-up of leaves in the gutters.
Shut off frost-sensitive outside taps before winter sets in to prevent frost damage. Turn off the supply valve and let the water run out until the pipes are drained. Frost may cause the water in the outside tap or the feeder pipe to freeze, which causes them to split.
Filters and valves play a crucial role in making sure your ventilation system works properly. They maintain good indoor air quality and see to it that your home is well aerated. If you have a C system, be sure to clean the valves in your wet rooms on a regular basis. The filters of a D system should ideally be cleaned a few times a year.
Check to see if you do not have any draughts coming in through doors and windows. Fit draught excluders in places where you have loss of heat. Seal any large cracks with a silicone sealing agent.
