Christmas is fast approaching and, consequently, the coldest of the winter months are creeping closer. With winter on its way, this may mean you need to make some much needed improvements to look after your home. It’s essential to think about correct house maintenance before winter fully kicks in, so you can be assured of nothing getting in the way of your merriment.
So to help you prepare for the most wonderful time of the year, we’ve put together a checklist of all the home improvements you can do to avoid any Christmas-time disasters.
Find where the breezes are coming from
Heating our homes is already costly enough and the last thing you want is to find you’re wasting money from a draught filling your home with cold air. Finding the air leaks can save you a lot of money and help retain the heat within your home.
The most common spots for air leaks are around windows and doors, so consider investing in some self-sticking draught strips to block these gaps.
Whilst you're checking for draughts, make sure your attic and basement are properly insulating your property, as these can often go overlooked. This doesn’t just keep costs down, but by reducing how much energy you’re using you will also be helping the environment, making your home kinder to the planet.
Checking your roof
When we’re in the grips of winter, take advantage and check your roof. Your roof’s status should be high on your house maintenance check list before winter truly kicks in. Though it may appear as a time-consuming process, ensuring your roof is in good condition over the colder months will save you from some potentially costly problems.
Simple tasks such as enlisting professional guttering and roofing services to clear your roof of any debris will mean water drains properly off your roof, while checking for missing tiles will help stop you from having any unfortunate leaks. Doing this safely from the ground is simple to do and if you do have any concerns, get a professional to look for you. As tempting as it might be to check at roof height yourself, a professional will be best suited to the task at hand.
Declutter your space
Before you decorate your home for the festive period, now is a great time to declutter your home - you know, to make space for all those new gifts and knick-knacks from the sales.
This can seem like a daunting task, so tackle your decluttering in small stages. Start off in the places that are most populated and busy during the festive season, such as the living room and dining spaces. This will make your home seem more inviting and spacious! For more ideas to organise your home, check out our handy guide on guidance for decluttering.
Protect the pipes
Another way to stay on top of preventing any headaches during the festive season is to make sure your pipes are in a good condition for when the temperature drops below freezing. When water freezes in your pipes, it will expand, leading to damage and potentially leaks.
There are lots of preventative measures you can take before the weather drops, such as installing insulation for your pipes and on your outdoor taps to prevent freezing from happening.
Celebrate the festive season with a merry house
Looking for some help with home improvements before you host Christmas Dinner? Try our Find A Builder tool to connect you to a tradesperson that can help with the job. All of our members are vetted and have had their work independently inspected on site.
Alternatively, check out our Blog for Homeowners for more advice, top tips on renovating, and guide to improving your home - like our blog for essential tips to keeping your home cosy this winter!