Doesn’t winter always feel just around the corner in Britain? We’ve even come to expect dreary summers!
The rain might make us consider moving onto a boat, but don’t do anything so drastic just yet – with the storms we get in this country, it might not be the wisest idea!
Instead, take the time now to get your home winter-ready before the cold sets in.
Heating bills are on the rise, but Energy Saving Trust have some excellent advice on lowering costs and saving energy, and I’ve compiled some tips to help you weatherproof your home.
Replace Your Windows
Old windows inevitably start to rot in time, and this’ll only get worse in the winter.
While they can be repaired, occasionally the problem is discovered too late for an easy repair. If this is the case, your best bet is to just replace them.
Consider upgrading the old wood to double-glazed UPVC, this will allow you to maximise your insulation, keeping the cold air out and the warm air in!
Check Exterior Walls
Are they cracked and worn?
If the answer is yes, then they could benefit from a rendering.
You can even tackle the task yourself. Use K Rend from a supplier such as Direct Building Products – they’re more than happy to provide you with advice and guidance to get you started.
K Rend is a silicone rendering manufacturer who provide excellent products to waterproof your walls!
Draft Excluders
Prevent the cold air from getting under your doors!
We’re all familiar with the unsightly bristle additions you often see on letter boxes, but your draft excluder needn’t be so unappealing.
Sites like Etsy feature countless fun, adorable, teddy bear styles. From festive foxes to delightful dogs, there’s a huge variety to choose from, often made by independent creators with a unique flair that will add a homely touch to your hallway.
Or, if you’re feeling creative, why not try crafting one yourself? There’s something so quaint about homemade.
Don’t Let the Pipes Freeze
We know that cuddling up with a hot water bottle is cheaper than having the heating on, but you shouldn’t completely trade the two.
If your pipes freeze on you, it’s going to be expensive and time consuming to fix.
Make sure to insulate your pipes and repair any dripping taps, as this can cause your drains to freeze up.
And did you know that you can even get jackets for your water tank? Adorable!
Hive
We’ve all heard of Hive by now, from their catchy jingles all over the TV to their actually rather useful services.
If you haven’t hopped on the Hive train yet, it’s worth considering before winter kicks in.
With a thermostat you can control remotely, you can turn the heating on before you get home – who doesn’t want to step into a toasty house?
And more importantly, with Hive, you can control your heating while you’re away so you aren’t wasting energy. This will also help you protect against the aforementioned pesky frozen pipes!
How do you weatherproof your home? Let me know in the comments!
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