When we think about winter, we like to think of it as snowy fields, slow careful driving, and lots of happy times with friends and family. But if only your home could talk, it would spell your fears. Winter is by far the most hard-hitting season of the year, for any home. The temperatures drop and it challenges every material of your home, not crack, not to become brittle and not to fall off or break. Not to mention, the inside guts of your home are always challenged and they can stop working. This brings many headaches, and your home begins to feel like a trap rather than your own safe haven. But we will give you some simple tips that will prevent any of this from happening to you.
Plugging the gaps
The first thing to do, is to check every single gap in your windows. Usually, they are so small that you can see or feel them. But don’t worry. You can get someone else to stand outside and cover an area with their hands and blow into the gap through their fingers. Put your hands or cheek next to the window, and you can feel the gust of air being blown in, this is where a gap lies.
Mark these gaps with a felt tip pen or pencil. Then, buy some draught strips which you can place over the tops, sealing them off. The reason why air leakers are so nasty is that they not only allow heat from inside the home to escape, but they allow rainwater inside. When the rain becomes trapped in the gap, you have the heating turned up, and consideration can build. This promotes mildew and rot, and the gap spreads as much as the mildew. Try using a sealant if you have gaps that look grimy.
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Hero water bottles
Since the early modern period, water bottles have been used to heat rooms. They have been placed underneath sofa cushions, underneath rugs and in beds. You can place a hot water bottle on the backside of your sofa, so the backrest is nice and warm. Do the same for your bed, by placing a hot water bottle underneath the duvet at dinner time. When it’s time for bed, it will be toasty and soothing when you climb inside. Water bottles are a cheap and cheerful way of bringing warmth to your interior and can be used in so many ways.
Beware the frozen pipes
The single-most annoying thing about winter, is the plumbing issues. When water freezes it causes a chain reaction in the home. Suddenly, when one pipe is frozen, the entire guts shut down. When a pipe is frozen, air pressure builds up until no more water from the mains gets inside. This is why you should always have the contact details of trusted toilet tap repairs services. Use their quick online system to get a quote and send them over a quick message. They will get back to you, usually the same day. They can examine the pipe when they come over, find the blockage, solve the issue by repairing or replacing the part and restore running water once again.
The dreaded gutters
Just about every winter, cleaning drains becomes a necessity. But no matter how many times we do it, it never seems to get any easier. When you have had a particularly wet fall, cleaning gutters can become a chore that you have to set out, an entire day for. But here’s how you can make this process easier.
- Using a ladder, drag a hose line up to the gutter. And allow the water to flow.
- After the ice has melted or the track has been cleared or grit and small stones, then you can begin cleaning.
- Using your hands begin to drag out the leaves and debris.
- When the gutters are clean, then allow the hose to run water through the side piping.
- Using a gutter cleaner solution, wipe the gutters clean so ice and water won’t easily pool. The slippery shiny surface will prevent this from occurring.
Pebble catcher mat
When the outdoors is wet, you can drag in little pebbles and stones when you walk inside the home. Even a normal bristled welcome mat won’t do the trick of sifting the pebbles out. You need an actual pebble mat, which is tough, coarse and is designed to dig into the tread of your shoes and wellington boots. Just a couple of wipes with your feet and that should be that.
The pebbles will fall onto the mat, from which point you can pick them up with your hand or just fold the mat and flap it outside. You can also use peg boot holders, which allow you to store your boots and shoes upside down. This allows mud to dry quicker and keeps your messy boots from staining the floor.
Got time to bleed?
Ever wonder why your rooms aren’t eating as quickly? It’s because your radiators are most likely in need of a good bleeding session. Most radiators come with a key, which can be used to turn the little screw on the end. The air should be gradually bled out, not suddenly. Turn on your radiators and then slowly wind the key until you hear a fizzing noise. Allow the air to release and don’t rush it naturally. This can force the boiling water inside to come to the surface and thus, push the air back down again. This just prolongs the problems. Be patient and bleed the radiator slowly. Get a book or browse on your phone, as it could take up to 20-30 minutes to do properly. Once it’s done, your radiators will heat up lighting fast!
Prepare your home for the incoming cold season. Use water bottles to keep your bed and sofa warm. Clean the gutters so ice won’t build up and cause hazards. You should also be prepared to deal with frozen pipes and messy boots!
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