Preparing Your House For Winter

Create A Winter Checklist

Winter is just around the corner and will be here before we know it. So in this lead up to the colder months, it is important to make sure your home is ready for winter.

Australian winters range from severe storms, heavy rain, snow and freezing temperatures. So it is recommended you be prepared to ensure your comfort, health and safety.

But it is not all bad news. Winter can bring families and friends closer together too. Warm fires, hot drinks, cuddles by the fireplace or watching a movie with your loved one. All these activities can be fun so make sure you create yourself a checklist of some simple tasks to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter season.

Clear Your Downpipes

With winter comes rain sometimes very heavy rain. And as autumn has passed there is a big chance that leaves are in your gutter. If you do not have gutter protectors then a quick check of your getter and downpipe systems is a must. You don’t want overflowing pipes to filter into your eaves. This can cause flooding and lead to an expensive and messy cleanup.

Check Your Heater

There are many different sources to heat a home. Some are done via a hot water system, others via an electric forced-air system or wood fire. So the simplest way to see if the heater is working properly is to turn it on for 15 minutes. Once the heater is running do a smell test. For ducted systems, the smell could mean there is something rotten in the ducts or there could be dust build-up or other contaminants. If you use a wood fire or combustion fire check that the chimneys are clear of any dust or debris.

Storm Safety Items

Do you have a first-aid kit? You may want to add some items to the kit that you can keep in one package. Prepare for the worst-case scenarios. Your kit at the very least should contain candles, lighter, matches, torch, batteries, water, toilet paper, first-aid, radio, long-life food and blankets.

Window Coverings

Having coverings for your windows can save on energy costs and also keep your rooms warm. Make sure all the seals in your windows are airtight. Check the gap between the base of your doors and the floor. A lot of heat can escape via open windows and gaps in doors. Invest in some door draft stoppers that can come in some unique and colourful designs.