November have been the mildest in the country. But don’t let that fool you. With cold and wet, British weather is on its way. It is worth spending an hour or two this weekend, creating a warm setting for you to hibernate for the winter is the best idea. The blog discusses the best ways to winter-proof your home.

Do you know that your roof releases 25% of your home’s heat? It is when your home is not insulated. It is wise to make sure that it has the recommended depth of between 250mm and 270mm before winter arrives. Thus, it is advisable to consider loft insulation that may last for about 40 years.

Let’s know some facts before waterproofing the home.

• Water expands when it freezes. This expansion can crack pipes and tanks. It creates leaks that often appear when things thaw.
• SEAI schemes and grants may help you insulate the home, especially the old attic, wall, lagging, heat pump grants and fully funded options. The grants reduce long-term risks and fuel costs.
• Insulating pipes/tanks and keeping warm air circulating into cold spaces are practical and evidence-based ways to reduce freezing risk. They caution that simply running taps is not the best way to prevent network supply.
• ESB networks suggest preparing for power outages because power outages can disable heating and raise the risk of freezing.

How to winter-proof your house?

The first thing to begin with is removing hoses from the backyard and the spigot. It is because the pipes may burst due to the hoses and spigots. If the spigot fails to drain, the water may freeze and block the pipe. It may lead to serious situations, as the pipe may burst inside the home.

It may also cause serious water damage.  Removing hoses before the stiff winters may eliminate the risk of pipe bursts. Here are other things to consider when waterproofing your home:

• Building fabric- insulation/ draught, and condensation

A home loses 20-30% of heat via the home’s roof. You can check SEAI grants for roof insulation and repairs before winter. Focus and seal the draughts around windows, attic, latches and other service penetrations. The draught proofing slows down heat loss and reduces the requirement of keeping your home heated at all times.

Make sure to maintain sufficient ventilation. It is important to avoid mould and condensation. The technical guidance emphasises air tightness with well-controlled ventilation support.

You may check the cheapest home improvement loan in Ireland if you don’t have the lump sum to treat one. It could be due to low sales, dropped income or unemployment. You may get the best loan rates by improving your affordability. You can do that by staking an asset or getting a guarantor to qualify for the loan. It may prove the cheapest way to tackle the expense, especially if you have bad credit.

• Prepare for an electric and power outage

You can prepare an energy toolkit that includes torches, battery packs, a battery-operated radio, charged power banks and blankets. You can check ESB networks to get updated information on power supply, grid lines, and storms.

If you rely on electric heating, you must have a contingency plan in place. It will help you ensure the right power backup heating source or the ability to move vulnerable people/pets to sheltered accommodations. Make sure to keep your phone charged and updated. Also, ensure you have the contact numbers of plumbers, electricians, and other repair engineers on speed dial.

• Service your boiler annually

A well-tuned system reduces the chances of failure during the cold season spells. SEAI authority guidelines suggest that grants and servicing aspects should be run by the government for frequent updates.

You can also try to fit programmable thermostats and thermostatic radiator valves (TRCVs) to maintain minimum temperatures in occupied and vulnerable areas.

If you have electric immersion or supplementary electric heating, you must have a plan. It may help you act quickly during outages.

• Clean roof gutters

It may not be a fun weekend activity. However, you can choose cleaning gutters as an important aspect of preparing your home for winter. The roof displays the structural integrity of a house. However, in the absence of one, your roof and your home may suffer drastically.

It may lead to expensive home repairs.  You can also consider updating the insurance cover if you hold one. Thus, it helps you avoid dampness, significant leaks and is best avoided by a good drainage system. Always try to remove the sticks from the roof gutters as the weather changes.

5)    Get your home health checked

Just like your body, your home may also need a routine check-up to avoid losing the home’s integrity and future value. If you’re confused about where to start your home’s actual update and insulating criteria, it’s best to check your home’s health.  It is especially important if your home reveals issues like moss formation, leakage, and heat loss.

Contact or request a house inspection by the experts. You may need to book a consultation if you lack an advance fee, check, or instant loans online for help. It may help you get quick cash for your needs without collateral or guarantor requirements.

Check home health checks and the insurance you may get. You may analyse a personalised amount that helps you cut your carbon footprint. If you choose to finance, one of the experts may visit your home or provide a loan online.

• Make doors and windows draught-proof

You may lose most of your heat through windows if you have done insulation well. Thus, ensure draught-proof windows and doors to prevent heat loss. You can also use draught excluders to winter-proof your entrance. You can just caulk or use a cheap DIY window insulation kit to fill in the gaps in the new windows and around. Here are some steps to draught-proof your doors and windows:

• Step 1- find the draught
• Step 2- Seal the moving parts first
• Step 3- Fix the bottoms and threshold
• Step 4- Seal the fixed gaps (in walls and frames)
• Step 5- Address local boxes and the key holes
• Step 6- improve Windows performance without fixing things
• Step 7-Adjust and maintain existing windows and doors.
• Step 8- balance the air tightness with ventilation
• Step 9- Identify the expense and create the checklist to incur the pending costs

Bottom line

These are some of the best ways to prevent freezing issues. Identify the insulation chances, moss, leakage and roof repair requirements. Identify the gutter’s health and get it inspected. It will help you know how much you need to invest in waterproofing your home for Christmas. Also, check and repair your doors and windows for firm locks and closures.  It helps prevent heat loss.