Get your home ready for autumn..

While it might be argued that September can be considered late summer (though someone should perhaps explain this to the weather gods), October is most definitely the start of autumn, which heralds changes in the weather, and how we like to live in our homes. The days of wide open windows, the central heating being switched off and salads for lunch are all behind us, so right now, while it’s not yet too dark and cold, is the perfect time to check your home is ready to withstand the oncoming winter.

Here’s our handy checklist for preparing your home for the colder months:

1. Book a chimney clean

If you have an open fire, or a wood burning stove, now’s the time to get the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned. HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme) actually recommends that for those of us burning coal or wood, we have the chimney swept twice a year, once at the start of the fire burning season and again in spring. For those who burn smokeless fuels, once per year will suffice.

2. Check windows and doors for draughts

When fuel prices are so high, everything we can do to support the integrity of our home insulation we should do. If you can feel a pocket of cooler air around a window, it’s likely there is a gap in the seal, even if you can’t see it. The best way to test is on a breezy day. Simply wet your hand, then run it closely around the window frame, you’ll feel an extra chill if there’s a draft. To do a visual test, light an incense stick and run it up around the frame – if the smoke moves in any direction but upwards, you have a small gap you should seal. If you can see the problem on the inside, a small amount of sealant will do the trick. If it’s not obvious, there may be an issue requiring professional intervention.

3. Have your boiler serviced

If you don’t have an annual servicing agreement with British Gas, for example, it’s easy to forget to have your boiler regularly serviced. Booking a heating engineer won’t just ensure your central heating will work efficiently again after its summer rest, but they’ll ensure it’s safe too. You wouldn’t run a car without a regular service, so why risk your boiler? They’ll also check for carbon monoxide risks, which could be a lifesaver.

4. Bleed your radiators

Give your central heating a test run, and once it’s had an hour to flow through the entire house, check your radiators. Any that are cooler at the top than the bottom need bleeding, which is simply the opening of a valve to release the build up of gases that occur in every heating system. This can affect any radiator, but usually has the most impact upon those that sit highest, such as tall towel rails – and nobody loves a cold towel on a chilly morning. If you don’t have a radiator key, they’re easy to find at your local DIY store, and YouTube is a great resource for these simple DIY jobs.

5. Drain your hose pipe and lag any outside taps

Last year’s extended severe frost had pipes bursting all over the country. Outside taps have pipes that run inside too, so wrap them up to help prevent those pipes freezing, and empty your hose pipe so any water left inside doesn’t freeze and split it. While you’re checking, add some additional lagging to the pipes that bring the water into your house. You need to know where the stopcock is too, so make these investigations now, as it’s much easier than when water is cascading through a ceiling!

6. Rake up autumn leaves

Leaf matter is brilliant for flower beds, so don’t leave them on the lawns. Either rake them up or use your lawnmower, then use the leaves as mulch to feed the soil and protect plants from frost damage. It’s great for the invisible wildlife, too, those little bugs and worms we need, yet rarely see. If you’re planning a bonfire, don’t build it till you plan to burn it. Hedgehogs love a leaf pile, and may hide inside any you build.

7. Clear your guttering

Where we live, it rains, alot, so a regular clean of the gutters is vital to ensure water drains where it should and doesn’t cascade over a blocked gutter and soak the ground close to your home’s walls.

8. Consider a dehumidifier

As it gets colder, we’re more likely to be drying and washing indoors. A lot of us are also likely to be running the heating a little lower due to the increased fuel costs. A dehumidifier sucks damp from the air, not only helping laundry dry faster, but helping prevent any mould growing. You can find dehumidifiers that draw water into a tank you empty when full, or can drain directly into a sink – perfect for use in a utility room or bathroom, and way cheaper than regular use of a tumble dryer.

Eddie – Friday 22nd September 2023. (Picture used from Cranbourne Road, Chorlton).