Winter may be a beautiful season, with snow days and cold mornings, but just like the wet weather of autumn, winter can badly harm your property, with strong winds and damp weather to test the outside of your building. Winter-proofing your home is crucial, so whether you’re planning to put your house on the market soon or just want to keep it safe and secure during the winter, here are some tips to get you started.

Put in draught-extractors 

A smart technique to stop heat loss from your home is to draught-proof windows, doors, and other openings. Draught-proofing equipment that may be swiftly and simply installed is available for purchase in DIY stores, whether you own your home or are a renter. You might save money each year by draught-proofing the areas around your windows and doors. If your chimney is open, draught-proofing it when it is not in use could help you save even more money annually. We have a blog post that covers all the details of draught-proofing your chimney.

Clean your gutters 

Debris like leaves, twigs, moss and other things can clog gutters, causing dampness inside your house if water runs down the external wall rather than through the pipe. It may also result in leaks or flooding. Verify that there are no nearby overhanging branches that could, shortly, clog the gutters.

Check your boiler 

Annual boiler maintenance can prevent minor issues from getting worse. Additionally, it makes sure that you have heating during the frigid winter months. Make sure to complete it during the warmer months to help minimise the inconvenience of having no hot water or heating throughout the winter.

Radiators should be bled

If your radiator is hot at the bottom and chilly at the top, that is another sign that it needs bleeding. Air pockets that prevent heated water from moving in the radiator are most likely to blame. Simply said, bleeding a radiator allows you to let the air out of the system. You will need a radiator bleed key, dry cloth or towel, and a container to catch any extra water that leaks from the radiator to bleed a radiator. Turn the bleed screw steadily counterclockwise with the bleeding key until you hear the air hissing out. It is time to tighten the valve back up when you get to the last bit of water.

Check and insulate windows 

Your windows let in a lot of heat loss. Single-paned glass is significantly worse than double- and triple-paned glass, which traps insulating air between glass layers, but chilly exterior air can still leak in around the edges. You will not be opening your windows for the foreseeable future if you winterize them. But that is probably the last thing you want to do if it is chilly inside.

Craft a draft snake 

The Great Depression saw a rise in the popularity of draught snakes. They are a cheap means of warding off the cold, which is an excellent reason why. It is simple to build your draught snakes by stitching fabric into a long tub and stuffing a bag with sand or rice. Draft snakes can be purchased in stores or online.

Seal the cracks 

Wall and window cracks allow heat to escape and draughts to enter, wasting both money and energy. Your home is more susceptible to penetrating dampness if there are open cracks in the walls because water seeps through and damages the paint, rots the wood, and fosters the growth of mould, all of which are expensive to fix. Use caulking or sealant to fill joints and gaps in your home to prevent moisture buildup and heat loss. Use expanding foam for cracks and pipes and sticky foam around windows and doors. Additionally, apply weatherstripping around doors and windows. Water can enter through windows, walls and ceiling cracks, or even missing roof tiles, so have them fixed or replaced.

Safeguard your wood deck 

Make sure you are maintaining your deck before you start decking the halls. Clear your deck of any dirt, debris, and fallen leaves. It could be best to apply a fresh layer of sealer now, before the snow starts to fall if you did not do so in the spring. To preserve your wood, you can either lay down a sizable tarp or be careful when shovelling snow with a plastic shovel. Maintaining your deck year-round helps extend the life of the structure.

The winter can bring cold, wet and harsh weather that can affect our homes but these tips will help prevent it.

Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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