Winter Is Coming, Quicker Than You Think : Tips to Help you Get Ready for Winter!

With winter slowly approaching you may be worried about how hard it is going to hit your home and garden. If you live in a place where the temperature regularly dips and snow appears then you will need to start preparing early. You never know when the weather is going to take a turn for the worse. Check out the article below to find ways of keeping your home safe and preparing it for bad winters. 

Inspect The Windows

Have you ever noticed a cold breeze flowing through your home? This could be small gaps in the surrounds of your windows letting cold air in. This makes your heating pointless as any warm air you are putting in, the windows are taking it straight back out. It can be tricky to notice in the summer so you will only spot this common issue in winter. 

If you do begin to feel immensely bothered by that cool breeze flowing through your home then you have a couple of options. You can either fill in the gaps with a sealer or you can replace your windows. It all depends on how old they are and what sort of budget you have available. Windows typically have a life expectancy of around twenty to thirty years, so if the time has come to replace them then get in touch with a verified and reputable window fitter.  

Head Up To The Roof 

Now, there is one area of your home that winter can hit pretty harshly. That area is your roof, and you should be inspecting it at least twice a year for any signs of damage. If there are no signs of damage or wear and tear then you won’t need to do anything. However, if you are met with a roof that contains holes or missing tiles then it is time to rectify this. Contact your local roofer who will be able to come in and make sure your roof is in one piece when they leave. The dilemma you have if the damage is extensive is deciding whether to simply replace the tiles that are missing, or whether you go for a whole new roof. 

Put Garden Furniture Away 

With winter just around the corner, it is a good idea to put your loose garden furniture away. You never know what sort of weather is going to hit you, this could be heavy rains, winds, or snow. If you don’t want to head outside and see your garden furniture blowing around then put it away or tie it down. You can get special garden covers that tie to your furniture, this is heavy duty so it won’t wear away easily. If you have a large enough shed then you could also place your furniture under cover for the winter period. 

Hang Thick Curtains

Another thing you might want to do is get rid of your light curtains and change them for heavier, thicker ones. A lot of people do this during winter, thicker curtains work to keep the majority of the heat in your home and stop it escaping. If you are looking for inspiration then you can get a set of thick, lined, blackout curtains to match the decor that already exists within your home. You will really notice the difference throughout your home with these curtains. It is also a great idea to put a heavy curtain up behind your front door, a massive breeze can come from here due to letter boxes and gaps underneath it. 

You can put these up using curtain tension poles, so you don’t even need to be drilling holes in your walls. You can put these up during winter and take them back down as summer rolls back around. 

Consider Upgrading To Carpet

If your home currently has hardwood flooring throughout then you may notice that it naturally feels colder during those winter months. Either putting rugs down or swapping to carpets will help trap the heat in your home. While hardwood floors are fantastic in the summer, during winter they can be a bit of a nuisance. Visit your local flooring showroom to see what they have to offer, you ideally need a carpet that is quite thick. As well as the carpet, you will need a high quality underlay. This will also work hand in hand with the carpets to keep your house warm. 

Boiler Maintenance 

It is ideal for you to have your boiler checked and serviced annually, especially before you head into winter. It is extremely common for boilers to break down just as winter hits, this is due to you needing the heating. If your boiler hasn’t been on all year then you need to get it serviced to ensure it will get you through this coming winter. Make sure you contact a registered and qualified HVAC and boiler engineer. It might be worthwhile signing up for boiler services, you can pay monthly for these service plans and they will generally include services, repairs, and replacement boilers. 

Be Snow Prepared 

Finally, think about how you can get as prepared as possible for any snow that arrives. The last thing you want to be doing is ignoring the signs and warnings, then getting snowed in. You will often know about snow a few days before it arrives, due to weather news or just a gut feeling due to temperature changes. 

If you need to leave your house everyday then you should invest in something like a cordless snow shovel to handle any deep piles. Try and keep your driveway and any paths leading up to your house free from snow and ice. That way you make it much safer for yourselves and anyone visiting or walking past your home. 

So there you have it, we do hope now you have some more knowledge on how best to prepare for winter. Although it happens every year, some years are much more harsh than others. It can be better to overprepare than under prepare.