Get your home ready for winter

  1. Frozen snowflake

Get your home ready for winter

The nights are drawing in, and winter will soon be here. Now is the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months so you can enjoy lots of cosy nights with the family. Preparing your house for winter will ensure you and your family are comfortable, no matter how cold it gets. Here are some tips on how you can get your home ready for winter:

Insulate the loft space

You may have a fantastic heating system in your house, but it won’t be as effective if the loft space isn’t properly insulated. Around a quarter of the heat in a home is lost through the roof, so ensuring you have the right amount of insulation is essential. Check what you have in your loft and if it’s less than 270mm, top it up with more insulation. By doing this, you not only have a warmer home, but you save money on your energy bills too. 

Boiler service and lagging pipes

Your boiler is essential for keeping your home warm, so regular servicing from a professionally qualified engineer will make sure it doesn’t break down when you need it during the cold weather. Also, lagging any pipes that move water around the house will help reduce heat loss. It will also prevent the pipes from freezing if they are in vulnerable spots such as the loft space.

Check for condensation

Seeing condensation on your windows is an indication that there is a problem. If you wake up in the morning and see water at the bottom of the windows inside your house, the windows are no longer as thermally efficient as they once were. Over time, window seals can break down, or damage to the frame or glass can cause weak spots in the glazing. It may be possible to repair the windows, or you may want to consider replacing them with modern double or triple glazing.

If you live in an older home, you may only have single pane glass. A window with more than one pane of glass will retain much more heat than single glazing. Secondary glazing may be the solution if you don’t want to replace the windows. Another pane of glass is added to the window, so you still have the same look as before but with much more heat efficiency.

Locate and fix any drafts

Drafty doors or rattling windows will show you that they are not keeping the house as warm as they are supposed to. Loose or damaged catches and locks, shrinkage of wood, or worn out seals can all cause windows or doors to let in cold air. Fixing the issue depends on what is causing the draft. Window seals are easily replaceable, or the area between the window and wall can be recaulked. In the case of rotting wood or damaged glazing, you may need replacement windows and doors.

If you have noticed issues with your windows and want advice on how to fix drafts, contact us today. We can inspect any damaged windows and find the best solution, whether that be replacement glass or new window installation. Our expert team can come to your home to provide a quote for new windows, replacement doors or window repairs as needed. Call Leicester Window Supplies today.

Posted: November 6, 2020