With winter now upon us, it's important to prepare your home for the cooler months ahead. Here are some things you should do around your home to prepare to ensure you stay safe, warm and comfortable.
Check your heaters
Make sure that your heaters are not a fire hazard by getting them professionally tested and tagged. Electric and gas heaters require regular maintenance to ensure they are functioning correctly and safe to use. Getting them checked gives you peace of mind that everything is in order giving you peace of mind that you will be safe. If you have ducted heating consider changing the intake filters and having the ducts cleaned so that you have cleaner air circulating through the house.
Clean or possibly replace your gutters
Lots of rain falls over winter, so ensuring you have clean and well-functioning gutters is critical to having the water flow freely from your roof, not causing any damage with blockages. If leaves remain in the gutters, then overflow will occur, causing blockages and possibly longer-term damage to your roof. It’s hard to see how full your gutters are, so it’s important to do it twice a year to keep them functioning as best as possible. Gutters, like everything around your home, need regular checking and maintenance, so you may find that they need to be replaced in sections where rust and years of use have taken their toll. Gutters are not hard to replace, so the sooner you do it the less costly it will be longer term.
Check for drafts in your windows and doorways
Heat loss through windows and doors is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use, so it can be costly if they are not blocked up over the winter period. Check to see if a cool breeze is coming through to see if something like weather stripping is a good idea. Weather stripping installation is easy and one of the most cost-effective way to keep your heating costs down. It's applied to your existing windows and doors and significantly improves the heat retention within your home.
Bring any outdoor furniture in
It sounds strange when you say it, but if you have furniture that gets damaged in winter because its outside, consider popping it in the shed or garage till the weather starts to heat-up again. This can include things like outdoor settings or chairs that you use throughout the summer that you don't through winter. It means that their condition is maintained and you can use and enjoy them longer.
Resurface and check for any slippery flooring
With rain increasing, it’s important to make sure that any surfaces you walk on are safe so that falls are prevented as much as possible. Sometimes this can mean high-pressure hosing some brickwork that has become slippery and slimy, or re-surfacing areas that have deteriorated over time losing grip and condition. A large number of falls occur in winter due to the change in weather conditions, so check sections around your home to see if they need attention and maintenance.
Check your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms save lives, so ensure your units are functioning properly and have new batteries in them as you head into winter. Monthly testing of the units is best to ensure they are working correctly, allowing any issues to be picked up and addressed early. We also recommend vacuuming around each unit and spraying and removing any insects to ensure they are clean and able to detect smoke properly.
The team at HCSA can help with any of the above tasks, so give us a call today to see how we can help you!