11 Feb Preparing for the colder months at the end of winter
Preparing for the colder months at the end of winter
As winter approaches, it’s important to prepare your home and business for the colder months ahead. Here are some tips to help you get ready:
- Insulate your home: Add insulation to your walls, attic, and floor to help reduce heat loss and keep your home warm.
- Seal air leaks: Check for and seal any air leaks around windows and doors, as well as in your chimney, to prevent heat loss.
- Service your heating system: Have your furnace or boiler serviced by a professional to ensure it’s running efficiently and safely.
- Install storm windows: Storm windows can help reduce heat loss and protect your windows from damage during winter storms.
- Stock up on winter supplies: Stock up on winter essentials such as salt and sand for your sidewalks and driveways, and make sure you have enough firewood to keep your fireplace or stove going.
- Prepare for power outages: Make sure you have a backup power source, such as a generator, and supplies such as flashlights, batteries, and blankets.
- Protect your pipes: Insulate your pipes to prevent them from freezing, and let a trickle of water run from your faucets during cold snaps.
- Clear your gutters: Clear your gutters of leaves and other debris to prevent ice dams from forming and causing damage to your roof.
By taking these steps to prepare for the colder months, you can help keep your home and business safe and comfortable throughout the winter.
Our main concern is leaky bits when faced with the winds blowing into Blackpool and Preston. So sealing air leaks is an important step in preparing for the colder months. Here’s a few tips on how to do it:
- Inspect your windows and doors: Look for any cracks, gaps or holes around the frame and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Check your chimney: Make sure the chimney flue is properly sealed to prevent heat loss and drafts.
- Inspect electrical outlets: Check for air leaks around electrical outlets and switch plates, and add foam gaskets if necessary.
- Inspect your attic: Look for air leaks around vents, ducts, and recessed lights, and seal them with spray foam or weatherstripping.
- Check your basement: Look for air leaks around pipes and ducts, and use foam seals to block them.
By sealing these air leaks, you can help keep the heat inside your home or business and reduce your energy bills. It may also be a good idea to have a professional conduct a blower door test to assess the overall air tightness of your building and identify any other areas that may need attention.
One simple tip for searching for drafts which might be coming in is to make use of an incense stick or a lit candle. Being very careful with the candle flame though. Hold it near your windows and doors to detect any drafts then sealing them as required with weatherstripping or draft snakes.
Other options may be to replace old or damaged windows: If your windows are old or damaged, consider replacing them with energy-efficient windows to reduce heat loss and increase comfort. Check to see if the frames are damaged or rotten (if they are older wood styles).
Replace weather stripping: If your weather stripping is worn or damaged, replace it with a new strip to prevent drafts and keep out the cold.
Install door sweeps: Install door sweeps on the bottom of your doors to keep out drafts and prevent heat loss.
Insulate your windows: Install window insulation film or add a layer of insulation to your windows to reduce heat loss and increase comfort. This is a cheap and easy quick fix, but if you can do so a better option would be to install new uPVC windows and doors. Not only will they help with keeping the warmth in but will enhance the look and feel of your home too.
Thermal blinds can help to keep any cool air away from the room and keep it near the window.
By taking these steps to prepare your windows and doors for the colder months, you can help keep your home or business warm and energy-efficient. This can also result in lower energy bills and increased comfort during the winter months.
If you’re interested in replacing a window for your home, take a look at our New Window packages. Alternatively, just take a look at our other services for more!
Also, follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with all our news, blogs and offers.