Top Tips To Prepare Your Home For Winter

Brrrrr it’s getting cold out there, where did the summer go? It feels like yesterday we were sitting in the garden relaxing in the rare British sun. Our old friend Jack Frost has paid us a visit over the past few weeks so here at Bowson Lettings we thought it was time to share our top tips for keeping your property warm this winter!

Here are loads of simple things you can do in and around your house to make your home more cosy, comfortable and energy efficient. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you might want to consider these top tips to help you save money and keep yourself warm during the cold months ahead.

Invest in a draft stopper

A bought or homemade draft stopper is a great, cheap and effective way of keeping out the ice cold draft. For students who are low on cash they make a fantastic Christmas present for friends and family. A draft stopper lay across the bottom of an internal door helps to block out air infiltration. If you want to test a a door for draft hold the palm of your hand up against a door or window. If you feel cold air coming through, warm air is escaping. This simple fix could save you money on your heating bills during the festive season.

Keep your pipes warm

One thing to keep an eye on during the winter is your pipes. There is a big risk during a frosty month that they could get frozen, blocked or even burst due to the cold weather. To prevent this happening wrap them up with lagging, tenants if you are unsure on how to do this please speak to your agent or landlord. Landlords, if your tenants are away for Christmas it might be a good idea to go down to the property to check the pipes and where the problem areas might be, such as cold areas of the home in the garage and external walls.

Take care of your boiler

When your starting to feel the winter chill through those five jumpers you are wearing its maybe time to use your boiler more frequently. Putting your boiler on a timer, even when you are away from your property will help the heating system run smoothly especially when the temperate drops. All boilers in our properties are different so please contact your landlord or agent if you are unsure on how to set it.

Bleed your radiators

Bleeding your radiators can be an effective and easy way to keep you warm over the winter. We do this to let out any air the is trapped inside, when done this can vastly improve your entire home heating system. This means a warmer home and cheaper energy bills!

To bleed a radiators you must turn off your heating, grab a cloth and a bleed key. It is important to turn off your heating to prevent risk of injury and mess. Look for a valve at the top of your radiator and turn anti-clockwise until you hear the air escaping. Hold a rag below to catch any water that drips out. Once water starts to drip quickly tighten the value up. If you are still unsure on how to undertake this process contact your agent or landlord.

We hope you have found our top winter tips useful. You can use all these tips to insulate further and keep the small things from costing you money. From all the team at Bowson Lettings we wish you a warm, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.