4Homes tips on preparing your home for a big freeze

I came across some preventative measures suggested by Kerry Young on the 4Homes website that UK home owners can take to help their protect from the winter elements. Whilst none of these will necessary save any damage to the property, there is nothing more sensible that a bit of preventative maintenance and applying common sense. In her article entitled “Prepare your home for a big freeze” Kerry suggests the following:

• Clean out the guttering and check for any leaks or damage.
• Cast your eye over the roof from ground level to look for problem signs such as loose or missing tiles. Check that TV aerials are securely fixed, too.
• Look out for cracked, loose or missing pointing or rendering on exterior walls and have this fixed before water finds it way in.
• Get your boiler and/or central heating serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Clear out leaves and debris blocking up drain grilles and clean patios and footpaths before they get slippery from a build-up of dirt.
• Have chimneys and flues swept if you use an open fire or wood burner.
• Get your insulation up to scratch — lag pipes and water tanks, fit draught excluders and insulate your loft properly.
• Make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are in full working order.
• Show every vaguely capable person in the house where the stopcock is, plus where to turn off electricity and gas supplies in case of emergency.
• Keep a list of useful numbers handy in case of emergency. Include your plumber, gas installer, electrician and doctor.

Source: channel4.com website 9th July 2010
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