The cold will soon be upon us and getting ready in plenty of time is essential. But, with time ticking away, how can we ensure we’re prepared for what hits us?
Some of us like the cold weather, but for the vast majority of us, it’s difficult to function day to day without being warm and cosy. It can be hard to heat up our homes to a comfortable temperature without spending an unearthly amount of cash to do so. Sometimes, we have to compromise and allow ourselves to spend that little bit more on heating bills in those colder months, or we have to grin and bear the cold by putting on a few extra layers. Whatever winter has in store for us this year, we can combat the cold in different ways and be better prepared than we ever have been before!
When it comes to your home, it needs just as much looking after as we do when it’s hit with snow, wind and rain. We can encounter damages, leaks, breakages, you name it. Winters can be harsh and there are so many things we can do to counter those effects and be in a safe and secure environment. Where can you start?
Where is your heating source coming from?
It’s simple to turn on the central heating and bump up the degrees on your thermostat when it turns a bit chilly, but are you really using the most efficient and cost-effective method of heating up your home? More and more homes are installing their very own wood burner, which, even though it can be a little pricey to set up, can save so much money in the long run. Reassessing your options and looking into other fuels such as heating oil for example can help you keep that little bit more money in your wallet. If you’re looking for cheap heating oil prices or a different, money saving fuel source, Rix, suppliers of heating oil and domestic fuel in the UK have you covered! It’s so important to try and cut down your expenditure, so you can save more money for those little luxuries.
Insulate your interior.
There are so many ways to insulate the inside of your home to ensure you don’t have to turn up those radiators constantly. The first thing to make sure you have in your home is loft insulation. Any heat from your home, whether it’s from your heating or cooking a meal, will rise. This loft insulation will ensure that any heat doesn’t escape through the roof, forcing it to recirculate around the rooms of your house. Another helpful trick is to turn any ceiling fans to spin in the opposite direction, pushing warm air back down into your room.
Also, it’s worth noting the dangers of keeping any pipes uncovered. When pipes freeze, the water pressure builds and builds, which can result in a burst pipe and flooding. A plumber will be able to install insulation sleeves that can help prevent the freezing of pipes.
Maintain your exterior.
It’s not just the inside of your home you should focus on when the cold hits. Property maintenance is one of the main issues people have when the temperatures plummet and neglecting it can have some negative side effects. During autumn, guttering around the home will become packed with leaves which can eventually cause blockages and damage to your gutters. Keeping these clear at all times will avoid any build up of water and leaks. Trimming any large, overgrown trees or branches can also help. When the snow arrives, this can weigh heavy on branches, causing them to snap and cause a lot of damage to your property if not dealt with early.
Dress with the weather in mind.
Depending on whether you’re the avid outdoorsy type or whether you need to only need to get to and from work every day, investing in the right clothing for indoors and out is really important. The right thermal clothing can save your home from pumping out more heat than it needs to as you’ll be able to save your own body heat for longer instead of turning up the heating. It’s also a great idea to get moving instead of sat on the sofa complaining about the cold. Get in some indoor exercise or do a little cooking – this will be sure to make you warmer for a while!
This post was in collaboration with Rix, leading domestic fuel and heating oil suppliers in the UK. For more information on their services or to request a quote, visit their website: https://www.rix.co.uk.
