Winter Property Checklist
With the cold nights quickly drawing in, it’s time to prepare your property for the winter months (if you haven’t already!).
Reduce the damage and expense you could face by reading our top tips below for preparing your property this winter.
Gutters
Clearing away left-over autumn leaves from your gutters doesn’t just reduce blockages and overflowing water, it also prevents them becoming loose when the water freezes. This can cause further damage to your property.
Check gutters, overflowing pipes and drainpipes regularly for leaves, or other objects, to minimise the potential damage.
Roof
If you spot shards of roof tiles or grit in your gutters, or even on the floor, it’s important you have your roof checked to prevent leakages into the property. This will prove to be much more costly in the long run!
Pipes
Pipes are easily forgotten, but no one wants to deal with the repair bill over Christmas when they split. Check your property’s pipes for cracks or damages, and make sure there’s plenty of lagging to prevent freezing and bursting. If the property is going to be empty for a few days (or longer) you can reduce the risk of frozen/burst pipes outside the property by turning off the water flow and letting the taps run dry. You can also prevent frozen internal pipes by having your heating on a low temperature whilst you’re away.
Boiler
We recommend having your boiler serviced once a year, especially before the winter months fall upon us. You’ll find a boiler service is cheaper than having to call out an engineer for repairs when it’s broken down.
A service will also highlight any issues that may not have been noticed during the warmer months, when the heating wasn’t on. This will help to reduce the chance of a breakdown.
We recommend asking when the boiler was last serviced on property viewings, to help protect you from the unexpected when the colder months arrive.
Radiators
Releasing any trapped air from your radiator system can help to heat your home quicker this winter. Trapped air is caused from air pressure building up in the radiator, preventing them from heating up properly. It’s quick and easy to bleed your radiator and allows hot water to cover every area.
