6 Winter Maintenance Tips

House maintenance is not always first on the list of priorities for home-owners, and it’s easy to put things off until the days turn into weeks and months. This means that what was a fifteen-minute patch job can end up being a complete redecoration project due to the irreparable damage caused by the delay. Property maintenance is even more important during the winter months, when the exterior of our home is exposed to the elements, and we spend more time inside, undoubtedly contributing to various wear and tear around the house. We've put together a few tips on how to keep on top of your home maintenance this winter, which are sure to save you money in 2020 and beyond.

Bleed Your Radiators

As the temperatures start to plummet and the heating gets ramped up, it’s important to ensure radiators are running at full capacity. Bleeding them once every winter will give them the best possible chance of being efficient over the colder months. This is sure to save you money in excessive eye-watering heating bills that can be particularly painful if you are not feeling the heat at all.

Check the Seals of Your Windows and Doors

On the subject of heating, you could have the best-functioning radiators in the world, but it won’t make a difference to the overall temperature of your house if windows and doors seals are letting in draughts and cold air. Run your finger around the seals of every door and window of your home or use a screwdriver to check for any gaps or holes. Smaller gaps can be patched up and filled in with caulk but ensure you seek the help of a professional if any more significant issues arise.

Check Your Drainage

Winter brings with it increased rainfall, and this winter seems to be a particularly wet one, so it’s worth preparing for the chance of more grey, wet days in the new year and beyond. Cleaning the gutter is no one’s favourite job, but this kind of preparation can prevent the need to replace them and is a good step to take in order to protect your roof.

Cut Off Exterior Water Pipes

Subzero temperatures increase the chances of pipes freezing over, and this can lead to all sorts of complications for your home, the biggest and most concerning being flooding. Switch off the valves and empty any excess water beforehand so that you won’t be caught off guard when the temperatures inevitably drop to below zero. As an extra precaution, you can wrap water pipes that run along outward-facing walls with heating tape, reducing the chance of freezing and once again enabling you to save money on heating bills. For more on cost-efficient homeownership, check out our recent blog post, energy saving tips.

Regular Heating Blasts

Many will try and economise on heating bills this winter by ‘putting a jumper on’ and braving the cold, but there are other reasons that regular spells of heating can be beneficial aside from body temperature, including home maintenance. Avoid damage caused by damp with regular bouts of heating, perhaps particularly relevant to those who own properties that are currently unoccupied. Again, this reduces the likelihood of frozen pipes and helps to keep your home in tip-top condition during the winter months.

Service Your Boiler

The importance of a well-functioning boiler for over the winter period cannot and should not be underestimated. Prevention is key, and a serviced and inspected boiler is a lot less likely to go wrong, particularly if bad weather hits and you find yourself with no heating or hot water in perishing temperatures. 

That concludes our list of the best winter maintenance tips for you to abide by during the colder months. Whether you're a first time homeowner hoping to keep on top of maintenance and aren't sure of where to start or you're a seasoned property investor with various houses to take care of and you'd like to do so in an efficient, cost-effective manner, we hope these tips help you to maintain tip top condition throughout the winter months and for years to come. Here at GSS Property, we have a range of homes for sale in North Tawton and beyond, so check out what’s available online to start your journey to homeownership with us today.