As the summers get hotter and the winters get colder, it’s becoming increasingly important that we take steps to ready our homes to ensure we stay warm and houses are safe when the weather is at its coldest.

There are a few things to consider when prepping your home. There are a ton of online resources to help but I will give a quick rundown here of some of the main things I do. A lot of these things I had no idea about until I moved out of my family home and wish I had been taught about them sooner.

When the weather starts to turn you need to make sure the outside of your house is just as prepared as the inside.
The most simple things you can do when making your home winter/bad weather safe is check all the windows and doors. Making sure there are no drafts will save you from wind blowing through but will also stop the house losing heat and in turn losing you money. Along with this it’s a good idea to clean out your guttering to stop huge ice blocks from forming and potentially causing them to collapse, it’s an easy thing to do and can save a hefty bill if they need replacing.

Check your roof. Roof tiles can loosen throughout the year and this will lead to leaks through the winter. It may be a good idea to get your roof inspected by a professional to make sure there are no areas that need fixing before the colder months.  depending on how bad the weather gets where you live, (you’ll know better than anyone), you may need to go the extra mile and make sure all garden furniture and bikes etc are tied down or secured in a shed or garage to avoid flying furniture getting damaged or hurting someone. If you are new to a city or area and haven’t experienced a winter there yet then you need to make it your job to find out, especially if the area is prone to floods as you will have t take extra precautions for that.

Once you know all of this you should look into getting home insurance and you’ll know what specifically to protect against. A lot of fail to get, or put off, their home insurance and hugely regret it later. It is so important as you are at risk of losing everything.

Ideally you would have your boiler serviced before winter comes around, that way you can avoid long wait times when everyone is rushing to be seen when its already freezing. You should have your boiler checked regularly and also should be keeping it clean. Many things that can be done to maintain the health of your boiler are things you can do yourself but you should always get your boiler serviced once a year by a professional, Whether its a simple once a year service or a new boiler installation, you need to make sure your boiler is in tip top shape as it is often seen as the heart of your home.

Keeping your heating on a timer is a great way to save money and also ensure your home is warm exactly when it needs to be. The heat and hot water can be off while the household sleeps and are out at work/school and be warm and ready for when you wake or arrive back home. New technology also means you can start up the boiler and heat your home remotely from your mobile phone when you’re on your way home. Imagine for example you are on a short holiday for a week and you don’t want to come home to a freezing house and wait forever for it to heat up this option is a lifesaver. Servicing your boiler will keep your mind at ease and that is priceless.

Whatever steps you take to prepare your home for the winter/bad weather, please also think about any outbuildings you may have especially if you have dogs or livestock that don’t spend all their time in the house. I also have a post about preparing your car for winter too if you would find that helpful.

Feel free to share any tips in the comments that could help someone else.