Preparing Your Home for the Colder Months
Check your heating
Check that your boiler and heating controls are working before it gets really cold. If you feel your radiators aren’t heating properly or are warmer at the bottom than they are at the top, then it’s the right time to bleed them. This releases any trapped air, allowing them to run efficiently. Not only will this improve the heating efficiency in your home, but it will relieve any strain on your boiler, which in turn will cost you less money.
This is a quick and easy task that should only take a few minutes. There are lots of useful guides and videos online , including this one from British Gas. Before starting, make sure your central heating system is turned off and the radiators are cool .
Remember to check if you have a pressurised system as you will have to do one radiator at a time and re-pressurise as you go. Take a look at this guide from Eon on checking your boiler pressure .
If there’s a problem with your boiler, please get in touch to book a repair appointment.
Protect your pipes
As temperatures drop, external pipes are more likely to freeze or even burst causing leaks.
When we hit spells of freezing temperatures it’s good too:
Leave your heating running at a lower temperature, run your taps regularly, and if your tank or pipes are located inside a cupboard open the door to let the warmer air circulate around your home. Ensure you are booking your yearly boiler service to keep your system working as it should.
In case of frozen or burst pipes, contact us immediately on 0800 542 8904 and turn off the water supply at the stop cock. We have a handy video guide on our website on how to do this.
Home Insurance
Contents insurance is designed to help protect your possessions. No matter how careful you are, there’s always a risk that your belongings could be broken, damaged, or stolen. As a landlord, we do not cover your contents as part of your tenancy agreement.
Social Housing home insurance policies are available which can cover you from any winter-related damage. See our helpful Home Contents Insurance page for further information.
Looking for further information? Here are some useful links to other areas of our website:
Tips to avoid condensation, damp and mould