Prepare your home

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Winter weather can also cause £millions worth of damage to homes so if the forecast for a more severe winter is correct there are some important steps you should take in advance to safeguard your home.

Use this checklist to avoid winter mayhem:

1. Take a walk around your property One of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare your home for winter is to examine the exterior walls. Damaged bricks, mortar and render could be the catalyst for expensive long term damage such as damp or rot. 2. Check the gutters Clean out your guttering and look for any leaks. Repairing any minor damage now will avoid it becoming a bigger problem. 3. Cast your eye over the roof Just a quick look from ground level should point out any maintenance work which your roof needs. Act now, a delay could cost you thousands of pounds. 4. Check your pipes Make sure your pipe work and water tanks are well lagged. It saves money by stopping heat escaping and will help to prevent burst pipes. If you cannot afford proper lagging try wrapping old newspapers around your pipes. If the worst does happen do you know where your main stopcock is? Make sure that you can turn it on and off. Also make sure you repair any dripping taps. 5. How well is your home insulated? Check the seals on doors, windows and letterboxes for any drafts. Thick winter curtains will help to reduce heat loss and save you money on your fuel bills. As much as 35% of heat is lost through the walls and up to 20% through poorly insulated windows and doors. Don’t forget to check your loft, properly installed insulation can further reduce heat loss. 6. Service your heating system Does your boiler need a service after a summer of inactivity? 7. Are you going away? If you are going on holiday ask a friend or relative to visit every day to check on your home. If your home is empty overnight, leave the heating on at your usual temperature setting.	Download the 'Prepare your home' checklist (4.03MB - pdf help)

1. Take a walk around your property

One of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare your home for winter is to examine the exterior walls. Damaged bricks, mortar and render could be the catalyst for expensive long term damage such as damp or rot.

2. Check the gutters

Clean out your guttering and look for any leaks. Repairing any minor damage now will avoid it becoming a bigger problem.

3. Cast your eye over the roof

Just a quick look from ground level should point out any maintenance work which your roof needs. Act now, a delay could cost you thousands of pounds.

4. Check your pipes

Make sure your pipe work and water tanks are well lagged. It saves money by stopping heat escaping and will help to prevent burst pipes. If you cannot afford proper lagging try wrapping old newspapers around your pipes. If the worst does happen do you know where your main stopcock is? Make sure that you can turn it on and off. Also make sure you repair any dripping taps.

5. How well is your home insulated?

Check the seals on doors, windows and letterboxes for any drafts. Thick winter curtains will help to reduce heat loss and save you money on your fuel bills. As much as 35% of heat is lost through the walls and up to 20% through poorly insulated windows and doors. Don’t forget to check your loft, properly installed insulation can further reduce heat loss.

6. Service your heating system

Does your boiler need a service after a summer of inactivity?

7. Are you going away?

If you are going on holiday ask a friend or relative to visit every day to check on your home. If your home is empty overnight, leave the heating on at your usual temperature setting.

Prepare your home checklist