Prepare your home in summer ready for a healthy and warm winter

Yes, we are still in the middle of a heatwave, so don’t panic just because I mentioned the word winter!

However, there are still some things that can be prepped now ready for winter to ensure you have a warm and cosy home to ensure you stay healthy throughout the winter months.

Of course good nutrition should continue throughout the winter months to keep our immune systems boosted, but it’s also vital we have suitably warm homes to keep the chills away and maintain optimum health.

Winter always suddenly seems to arrive and we sometimes haven’t prepared at all, which leaves us sorting out heating issues when we desperately need it all to work perfectly in that very moment. Instead of causing unnecessary stress at the coldest time of the year, it’s worth seeing if there’s anything that can be prepared well in advance in these summer months to save hassle in a few months. We have already been prepping our home for the winter months. Here’s how:

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Hire a chimney sweep

If you have a real fire or a log burner like us, then it’s vital you have it swept and cleaned once per year. Sweeping removes built up soot and any blockages that could prevent the free passage of dangerous combustion gases. A regularly swept chimney will protect your health, prevent fires and avoid smoke damage. If dangerous gases come into your home and are breathed in, this can be fatal!

Check your carbon monoxide alarm

With the above in mind it’s the perfect time to also check your carbon monoxide alarm. They do have a shelf life so check the back of yours to ensure it works. Carbon monoxide is a fatal gas that is colourless, odourless and tasteless, so without an alarm you will not know it is filling your home. An alarm really will save your life. By law you must have one in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance.

Collect and chop firewood

I doubt anybody wants to be outdoors in the Baltic temperatures of mid-winter chopping firewood in a desperate attempt to keep warm. If you have a log burner then it’s a much more enjoyable task to collect firewood in the spring or summer and to chop it all up so it’s ready to grab and go. It’s also great exercise for the summer months and a brilliant way to be outdoors surrounded by nature.

Fix any central heating issues

If you had any niggles with your central heating system last winter then don’t put it off and fix them whilst you don’t mind not having the heating on for a day or so – that’s right, in the summer! Last year some of our radiators stopped working so the sensible solution will be for us to find the problem and fix them now instead of when it’s an inconvenience as we need to use them. Taking time to bleed each radiator in the summer will hopefully mean they all work more efficiently in the winter which could save us some money too.

We’ve already started completing some of these tasks to ensure we have a safe, healthy and warm winter. Another great tip is to make sure you are getting the best value for your gas and electric. You’ll be needing to use a lot more lighting and heating in the winter months, so it’s important you can afford this to ensure you are comfortable through the season and not worrying about the extra costs. If it’s been a while since you switched provider, then check online to see if you can get a better deal for your electricity and gas this winter to save some money.

Why not join us and prep now so you’re fully prepared when the cold hits?