Getting your Home Ready for Winter

With the nights getting darker and colder, are you and your home as prepared for winter as you could be? Ideally it is something that you look at in the autumn, but there are still plenty of things that you can do to prepare your home for winter.

• Salt or Grit
• Insulation
• Draft Excluders
• Extra Clothing
• Extra Fuel

Salt & Grit

This is something that people who live in towns, do not normally think about. But, if you get a cold snap with lots of ice, salt and grit is the best thing to roads and footpaths from being a potential hazard. You do not have to go looking for the local councils yellow bin by the side of the road looking for salt, there are plenty of websites such as HansonSalt.co.uk, which can deliver to your door in no time at all. This is especially good if you have elderly people in your home as it will give them much more confidence, knowing that they are not going to slip and hurt themselves.

Getting your home insulated

All modern homes will come with modern cavity wall insulation as standard, and you should also get your loft cavity insulated if it is not already done. If you have older insulation in your loft, then you may wish to change this for more modern materials which are better at stopping heat loss. You may even be eligible for a grant from your local council to update your insulation; details will usually be on their website.

Drafts

Drafts can really ruin the cosiness of a home, and getting draft excluders for all of your doors can save a lot of money. Windows can also be a big loss of heat, so make sure that the window unit is sealed properly, and drafts are not coming in. A heavy set of curtains is good to try and retain heat, but make sure these do not block any radiators. Also bear in mind that you may get hot during the summer with heavier curtains. Just by stopping any drafts that you have in your home, you will be surprised, and what difference it can make.

Clothing

When it comes to winter, make sure your dress appropriately. This may sound silly, but there is no point in cranking your heating up to 30° and walk about the house in only a pair of shorts! Dress in warm clothes for winter and turn your heating down. Putting an extra jumper on, and turning down your heating by one degree, can add up to quite a saving over time.

Extra Fuel

Most of us have either a gas fired central heating system, or an electric system. Often in the coldest of times, is when these things tend to break. Make sure that you either have yourself a small wood or gas fire that you can use, in case of emergency and the power goes out. Be very careful of burning any substance in your house, as only a proper chimney should be used, and gas fires should be used with caution. The last thing you want to do is burn your house down!

By-Line: Seth Robin Pyle graduated university with a Masters degree in Urban Planning. Seth is a very creative person and loves problem solving, which is part of his job as an architect. Seth is also a keen technology buff and loves to incorporate new ideas and technologies into his designs. Another of his big passions is sharing his ideas and experiences in the blogs and articles that he writes.