Is your home ready for autumn?

As the scorching summer starts to fade into our memories, now's a good time to make sure your home is ready for the cooler, wetter weather. A few simple checks and preparations now can save a lot of bother and expense later. Here's our list of tips and reminders. Power through these and then you can relax, knowing that your home is tickety boo.

Outside

Roof

Loose or missing slates can cause all sorts of problems for you. From leaks and drafts to unwanted guests living in your roof space, it's worth making sure your roof is in good shape before the bad weather starts. Make sure you inspect your roof safely. We have towers, ladders and platforms to help you stay safe as you make your checks.

Gutters (and downpipes)

It seems obvious, but make sure your gutters are clear and that your downpipes are too. Leaves, twigs, nests and other detritus can block gutters and lead to overflowing. If your gutters overflow then your stonework may be damaged. And if your downpipes can't cope with the water flow, they'll spring leaks. And that can damage stonework and the ground underneath the pipe. Here's DIY a guide on how to make light work of cleaning your gutters. 

Plants

Bring any delicate plants indoors, before the frosts start. And also any plant pots that might be damaged by high winds.

Secure furniture

Make sure that any garden furniture you have is properly secured. The last thing you want to be doing during a storm is chasing your patio furniture across the street.

Plant some bulbs for spring

If you want lots of colour in your garden in the spring you need to plant the bulbs around September or October. So get them planted and you'll be able to enjoy them once the winter's over. 

And inside

Check for drafts / leaks

Check doorframes and around windows. Once the temperature drops you'll be glad your home keeps the warmth in (and the cold out). You can buy simple rubber or foam strips that allow you to make sure every gap is airtight. 

Check safety alarms and equipment

You'll be spending more time indoors so make sure it's safe. Test your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detector, if you have one. The fire brigade will come and make sure you've got working smoke detectors in the right places. Contact your local fire station to find out more (and don't use the emergency number, use Google to find your station's number).

Boiler / central heating

The last thing you want is your boiler breaking down during the colder months. It can take time to get a new one fitted, so best to make sure yours is in decent shape. If it's not been serviced for a while, you might want to consider getting that done.

Bleed your radiators

If they've not been used for a while you may have air in your system. So get a radiator key and, when your system hasn't been on, gently bleed your radiators to remove any air. You can watch an expert doing it here.

Check your insulation

No point having it if it's not working properly for you. So just do a quick visual inspection of any roof area. Make sure there are no obvious holes or areas that the lagging doesn't cover.

Brighten the place up

A new light or even a different light bulb can change the whole feel of a room. As we mentioned earlier, you're likely to be inside a bit more over the coming months, so treat yourself to something that makes your living space a little bit brighter. 

 

If you spend a wee bit of time now before the weather really turns, you'll be able to relax knowing that your house is ready. Whatever you decide to do with your home, make sure you do it all with the right equipment. Always think safety. If you have any questions or if you'd like to hire some kit just give us a call.

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