Is your House Winter Ready?

By Janet Spencer

In Victoria we are well and truly in the throws of autumn with winter at our doorstep.  The long dark, cold and rainy days ahead of us can be very expensive if you’re caught out unprepared.  Keep your bills down and your house safe by following these tips:

INSIDE YOUR HOME

• Service and clean your heaters to prevent failure to heat or even worse, fire or carbon monoxide leaks. If your heaters are old, consider replacing them altogether, either way, get a professional in to service your heating system.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure it’s clean and the chimney has been swept.
• Ensure your smoke detectors have working batteries. Fires started inside the home increase in winter. You may also want to install a carbon monoxide alarm to be extra safe.
• Don’t set up portable heaters in areas where they may be knocked over or too close to bedding, curtains or any combustible furnishings.
• Never leave any open flame unattended, including candles, fireplaces, gas heaters and stove tops.
• Never use portable outdoor heaters indoors.
• Double check your electric blanket for any tears or rips in the cord. If it’s old, replace it.
• Clean out the filter on your clothes dryer regularly to prevent fire.
• Store all lighters, matches, candles and any flammable liquid out of reach of children.
• Add weatherstripping around doors and windows to help keep the heat in.
• Seal up any gaps and cracks that may let cold air into the house.
• Put up heavy curtains where possible to keep the heat in, but remember to open them on nice sunny days to let the natural light and heat in.
• Close off any rooms that you’re not using to keep the heat where it needs to be.
• Purchase a home fire kit including a fire extinguisher and blanket.
• Check that your emergency torch is working and keep back up batteries in an accessible place.
• Top up your insulation if possible.  A house that is properly insulated uses 45% less energy than a non insulated house.

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME

• Clean your gutters and down pipes of fallen leaves and debris and make sure they are draining away from the house. This should be done a few times during autumn and winter. Old gutters should be replaced to prevent serious damage to your house.
• Install gutter guard
• Check all outdoor lighting and ensure your walkway is properly lit.
• Repair any steps, handrails, cracked tiles etc, where possible to prevent injury.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches so that they don’t damage the house in any storms or winds.
• Make sure all of your locks are working properly so you don’t get locked out in the rain.

Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter always stay safe and have a plan. Make sure your whole family knows what to do in case of an emergency. Write down emergency phone numbers you may need so that you’re not fumbling in a time of stress.  In case of fire, teach your children how to respond and what to do.

We love winter in Melbourne.  Football matches at the MCG, hot pies and warm coats to snuggle into.  If you’ve experienced a Melbourne winter, you will understand.

Also, Buyer Solutions buys a lot of property in winter when the market can be a bit sleepier than in spring.  If you have the budget, come and see us and we can assist you to buy better and sooner.

If you want to know more about where we buy and how we buy so well, please get in touch with Janet on + 61 3 98168555 or jspencer@buyersolutions.com.au

Buyers Agent, Home maintenance, Investment property, Safety

Buyer Solutions, energy, heating, home maintenance, planning, safety, winter ready