We’re rolling towards autumn now which means that the temperature is dropping and many of us are starting to panic about the coming hike in our gas and electricity bills. Getting the house prepped for the colder months is one of the best things that you can do if you’re looking to keep the costs down this winter.

Instead of just considering rotating your seasonal wardrobe or adding hearty additions to your menu at home, you need to start thinking about garden maintenance, roofing repairs and boiler servicing. With this in mind, here are some of the things that you could do to get your home prepared for the winter.

• Eliminate any draughts. You don’t want to lose the heat of your home through gaps in floorboards, windows and doors. By installing draft excluders or using door snakes, you can remove the worry that cold air will be swirling around your home.
• Encourage as much good airflow as possible. This may seem counter-intuitive after we just told you to block up draughts. You don’t want your house to become stuffy in the winter because a stuffy house tends encourages condensation to form and this can cause mould to develop. Take the time to improve the airflow from room to room and use dehumidifiers especially in rooms with lots of steam like the kitchen and bathroom.
• Get your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested regularly. You want to know that your alarms are in good working order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and not being woken up if a fire breaks out while the household is fast asleep. If your alarms are out of order you and your family will be at risk of grave danger.
• Have your roof checked. You need a good roofing repair company to come and assess your roof if you’re concerned about anything being wrong with it. The roof plays an important role in weather-proofing the interior of your home, and so you should ensure that your gutters and downpipes are kept clear of debris such as leaves and moss to ensure good rainwater run off.
• Go through the garden. You need to weed, cut the grass and cover non-hardy perennials if you want to prepare the garden for the winter months with the rest of the house. Your garden furniture should also be covered or put away and your shed should be locked up securely to prevent theft and damage.

Your house being prepped for winter gets you and your family better peace of mind for the following few months. The more well prepared you are, the more you will enjoy a warm, comfortable home this winter.

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