Spring
Whether we’ve had a mild or harsh winter, it is essential to check your property for any winter damage along side our annual spring clean. We often suffer from heavy down pours, frozen ground, and heavy winds during the winter months.
Check/ Repair fencing
Following harsher weather now is the time to look out for fallen or damaged fencing, especially if you have young children or pets. Not only does this pose a risk to injury but it could also prove to be costly if replacement is needed due to excessive damage.
Check guttering and fascia’s
Check your property for any water damage or rot. It’s worth inspecting your facia boards as these are prone to deteriorate because of overflowing gutters due to heavy rain and the build up of leaves and the growth of moss.
Inspect roof tiles
Whilst inspecting this area of the house it is a good time to visually inspect your roof tiles. Keep an eye out for excessive amounts of moss and broken or slipping tiles as this will result in heat loss and more importantly the ingress of water into the property.
Paint fencing and decking
Whilst looking forward to the more prominent weather now would be a good time to paint fencing and treat any decking you have around the property. Not only will this help preserve the wood but will also spruce up the garden ready for the summer.
Chimney inspection and sweep
HETAS encourage having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood or bituminous house coal and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. I would recommend having your chimney inspected and cleaned twice a year, once before you intend to use your fires and then again after the winter season.
Lawn care and hedge cutting
As you prepare for the summer months in the garden, spring is the perfect time to cut lawns and trim hedges as this will encourage it to grown and flower over the summer.
Summer
External Painting
Spend time in the sun by focusing on external jobs such as painting the house. This is the perfect time as we have less wet weather and the right temperatures to aid the drying time.
Check pointing in brickwork and chimney stack
It is preferable to complete brick work and pointing over the summer period. Keep an eye out for loose or damaged mortar in the brick work and repair where necessary, this will help prevent drafts and water ingress during the bad weather but will also prevent pests such as wasps from nesting around the home in the height of the summer season.
Boiler Service, flush radiators and heating system
On average most households switch off the heating over the summer except for hot water. so now is a good time to get your annual service completed. And if not already done so get your system flushed. Boiler systems should be flushed every 5 years as limescale, and rust particles block the system and can lead to break downs.
Clean behind radiators
With the temperatures at their peak, you’re most likely to be hanging your washing out in the sun to dry, this gives you the perfect opportunity to clean behind your radiators getting rid of any dust that may have built up.
Ventilate the home
Just as winter can cause damp issues you can also provide the right environment for a mould build up if your home is poorly ventilated. During warmer weather conditions it is a good idea to open windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the home.
Autumn
If not already maintained the autumn period can prove to be the most time consuming and costly time as you prepare for winter and the harsher weather.
Clean Gutters
Autumn can be one of the most colourful seasons as the plants and trees start to change in colour but the downside to this can be the fall of leaves. Keep an eye out for clogged gutters and drains to help prevent flooding.
Check/Improve Insulation
Now is the time to prepare your home for winter and make the necessary changes before you intend to switch on the heating full time. One of the biggest expenses in a home in today’s economy is heating the property. If your home is poorly insulated, it will result in the loss of heat so check your loft insulation and top up if necessary. Loft insulation should be U-value of at least 0.16W/m2K / minimum of 270mm either mineral or glass wool
Check window and door seals
A job often missed by many households which results in heat loss and incoming draughts. Check the external frames of your windows and doors for gas and apply a fresh bead of silicone if needed. Also check the insides and use silicone/ caulk where needed.
Check tank and pipework in the loft
Depending on the type of heating system you have you may have a water tank and piping in the attic. Now Is the time to install an insulating blanket over the tank and add pipe lagging to water pipes. Tank blankets and pipe lagging maintains temperatures around 2 degrees higher than systems without.
Test or replace smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
As the months draw colder, you’re starting to think about putting the heating on or lighting that fire, be sure to test or replace your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Bleed radiators
Bleed radiator to remove air pockets and ensure they are in optimal working order ready for winter usage.
Winter
Trim Trees
Now all the leaves have fallen it’s the perfect time to observe your trees, keep an eye out for over hanging branches or rotten branches that may cause damage to the property during heavy winds and storms.
Chimney inspection and sweep
As stated previously it is advised to have your chimney inspected and swept twice a year. As winter approaches you’ll be planning to use your fire heavily to help warm your home over winter, before doing so I would ensure that the chimney has been inspected and cleaned. This will help prevent any chimney fires.
Install draught excluders
Apply draught excluders to the bottom of external doors, this can be in the form of a brush or cushion. This will help prevent the draughts and keep the heat in.
Check pipework for leaks and breaks
One of the most common causes for water leaks are cracks and damaged components caused by the expansion of freezing water in pipework. Any external taps or pipe work without covers or lagging will want to be checked for damage or leaks.
Radiator reflector panels on external walls
If you don’t already have any installed grab yourself some radiator reflector panels. These are a cost-effective solution to help prevent heat loss behind radiators, especially those installed on an external wall. Radiator reflector panels are very efficient and reflect the heat back into the room reducing the amount of energy required to heat your home.
