Home and HouseholdHousehold

Winter: Top tips to get your house in shape

Despite the inevitability with which it comes every year, winter is definitely not everyone’s favourite time. However, with a little forward planning, you can be sure of spending more time curled up, warm and cosy, secure in the knowledge that your house is protected from potential damage while insulated against the chill. Here are seven simple tips for a happier winter.

Get the fireplace ready 

Nothing beats a natural fire, if not for the warmth it provides, then definitely for the ambience it creates. For those who have a fireplace, check for birds’ nests, any cracks or other damage, and, if you have a thatched roof, have the flashing checked. Using a fireplace isn’t maintenance-free: the ashes from last year should be long gone, and every other year, you need to have the chimney professionally cleaned. Buy wood early as prices tend to go up when temperatures go down and demand increases.

Cut the draughts

Keeping the house warm is much more difficult if the heat is leaking out. Make sure windows close and seal properly to keep the warmth in. Check for any cracks around frames and fill them in (with wall filler). Consider using under door draught stoppers, also known as ‘door snakes’, to prevent the wind from sneaking in through the crack at the bottom of a closed entrance.

Prepare for load shedding 

Don’t let load shedding catch you off guard―always have a fully-stocked emergency kit at hand. Include batteries, a torch, candles, matches, a lighter, and perhaps a battery-powered radio (for news updates). Make sure your first-aid kit and medicine cabinet have all the items you may need in any emergency. Check that your mobile phone is adequately charged. Portable gas stoves don’t cost much and are a great idea to be sure you can enjoy a hot drink or meal even when the power is off.

Maintain heaters and heating systems 

Be sure your heating systems are ready to weather the winter. Have a professional check your air conditioning system and ensure it’s in good working order before you turn it on. Schedule checks for your heater and chimney. Consider a gas heater to help cope with the possibility of load shedding and to also save on electricity costs.

Pad your pipes 

For those colder parts of the country where below-zero temperatures are common, there is an additional risk: a small frozen pipe can cause big household damage if it bursts. Prevent this from happening by padding your pipes to prevent bursting. Grab some tubular pipe insulation sleeves from your local hardware store and cover exposed pipes in unheated areas. The pipe sleeves are easy to apply and can be cut to fit. Cover all exposed parts, including bends and joints. Finally, seal the seams with duct tape. With that simple task, you’re not only preventing considerable water damage, but also conserving energy.Another good idea is investing in a geyser blanket. By insulating the geyser against normal heat loss through the steel casing, the geyser keeps the hot water hot for longer – meaning the geyser does not need to be switched on as often. Unless insulated, geyser water temperature can drop by 1 degree Celsius per hour, so constant energy is needed to maintain the temperature. A geyser blanket can cut energy use by half, thereby saving electricity and money.

Clean out the garage 
Like your traditional spring cleaning, consider scheduling a traditional ‘autumn cleaning’ of your garage. Organise the remains of your summer projects and clean and store gardening tools. Push what you won’t be needing – the lawn lawn-mower, hedge trimmer, rakes and summer toys – to the back and bring any winter necessities to the front.

Also view:

Safety from Fire at Home 

Safety, Prevention and Treatment from Burns

Safety when Heating with Gas

 

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970)

MiWay Insurance Limited (‘MiWay’) is a direct, short-term insurance company, offering customers a range of short-term insurance products including motor, household, homeowners and business insurance as well as add-on products such as warranty cover and liability cover. MiWay is wholly-owned Santam, a blue-chip JSE-listed company.

 

Pin It on Pinterest