Easy Tips to look after your Home this Winter

That’s right, it’s the most exciting time of year! Time for parties, food, presents and… property maintenance. Oh yes.

…Okay, I know it’s not the first thing that comes to mind at this time of year and it’s far from the most exciting, but looking after your household at this time of year is important. It will ensure you keep warm, safe and save money.

To help, here are my tips and tricks to see you and your property through the winter months, including advice on general maintenance as well as what to do when there is a problem. Christmas really has come early!

Heating

Oh no, there’s snow heating! Let’s make sure it’s warm and toasty inside by ensuring your heating is running smoothly.

• Check the boiler pilot light is on. This is the small flame that lights the gas. Check that it’s on - if not, refer to the boiler manual and if that fails, seek professional assistance (or, if renting, alert your property manager/landlord).
• Test your radiators to make sure they work correctly. If you notice they aren’t heating properly, there are cold spots or they gurgle, bleed them to let out trapped air.
• If you’re going away at all, leave heating on a low temperature and leave the loft hatch open if you have one. Doing this will keep your property warm, avoiding mould and freezing pipes.
• Don’t set the thermostat too high. This might seem counter-intuitive but the warmer your home is the faster heat will be lost to the outside. To achieve optimal comfort it’s recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. (Pro-tip: if you really want to save money you could even wear a jumper. There are many stylish and cosy Christmas jumpers in the shops this time of year.)

Water and Plumbing

No one’s dreaming of a wet Christmas. If you are having plumbing problems DON’T PANIC. Simply follow my steps below to make sure your water and plumbing is running smoothly.

• Make sure pipes are insulated, especially pipes in the loft or outside the premises.
• Make sure you know where the stopcock is and check that it works. This will be essential to preventing further leakages if any pipes burst.
• Make sure that pipes are clear by periodically putting household drain cleaner down plugholes. And never let fat and food go down kitchen pipes – especially after your festive feasts!

Mould

At Christmas you want mulled wine not mouldy walls! To prevent the growth of mould in your home follow the tips and advice below.

• Cover pans and turn down the heat when boiling food.
• Dry clothes outside or in a well-ventilated room, or open a window to let the moisture out.
• When taking a shower or bath, ventilate the bathroom by opening the window or turning on the extractor fan if there is one.
• Open windows or trickle vents to change the air.
• Let air circulate by leaving a gap between furniture and walls.
• Wipe away moisture to stop mould developing. If you find mould, wipe it away with diluted bleach.
• You can also purchase a dehumidifier or moisture traps to pace throughout the property.

Exterior

Baby, it’s cold outside! And your home’s exterior gets the full brunt of the winter weather. It protects you from the wind, rain and maybe even snow. So, although sometimes forgotten amongst heating and plumbing maintenance, it is crucial to maintain it!

• Check for peeling paint, which can be a sign of moisture penetrating the property.
• Check pipes, drains and guttering for blockages and to make sure they’re properly fixed. If not, you can clear blockages yourself, or get a professional to look into both this and fixtures.
• Make sure vents aren’t obstructed.

Garden

Do you want to build a snow maaaan… in your own garden? Follow my tips below to keep your garden well-maintained throughout winter and to ensure it’s ready for next summer. Olaf would be proud!

• Rake up any fallen leaves and in particular clear pathways and avoid slips.
• Put away or cover up equipment and furniture (including that trusty BBQ).
• Check fences and gates are stable and secure.

Boiler Problems

Oh (rein)deer! If you experience problems with your boiler, there are some checks you can do that may resolve the issue before resorting to contacting an engineer:

• Unless there is an obvious leak, try resetting the boiler.
• If you have no hot water, the water pressure could be to blame. Consult your boiler manual to see how to check this and re-pressure the boiler.
• If you have no heating or hot water and your boiler is making a gurgling noise or shows an ignition fault code, it could be that your waste pipe (or condensate pipe) has frozen. You can try pouring hot water over your pipe externally to thaw the ice. Try to concentrate on any pipework that is horizontal, such as bends. If it works you should hear the ice begin to crack and it can sometimes shoot out of the bottom of the pipe like an ice-pop. Be aware that this can sometimes take several attempts.

As you can see, property maintenance at this time of year is snow joke! (Sorry.)

I hope that you find this helpful, and if you need assistance with the management of your property feel free to contact our property management team at [email protected] or by clicking here.