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That’s it! Summer is officially over! We’ll probably get a few lovely days and weeks of beautiful weather still, but September marks the end of this particular chapter, and we’re all in on what the fall has in store for us. Sunnier climes and the wonderful summer vacation allowed us to create some memories that’ll last a lifetime, but all good things must come to a halt – otherwise, their value will rapidly decrease with time.
During the autumn months, things start to die down a little. The weather becomes a lot more modest, and our behaviour as a community becomes a little less wild. For the majority of people in this particular hemisphere, it’s a case of winding down and getting ready for an entirely new segment with all-new stories and angles ahead. Living beings and the elements both team together in terms of settling down and cooling off!
The crazy days of extreme cold and harsh weather are still quite a way away, but we all know how devastating they can be if we’re not pulling prepared for what’s ahead, don’t we?
Everybody has been through a torrid evening at home, or even when they’re out and about, due to some of the conditions winter throws at them. The autumnal months of September, October, and November have their own priorities, but that doesn’t mean you should get ready for the following season also. It’s always wise to have things handled beforehand because you never know what might happen, and living in a malfunctioning home during the colder days isn’t something that you want in your life.
What can you do in terms of preparing your home for the more distressing elements? Well, not to put any pressure on you, but there are a fair few jobs around that you might want to get sorted if and when you can. There’s obviously no rush right away, but it’s good to have everything locked down and fortified before we’re into the eye of the storm. Here are a few things that you could do during any free time that you might have:
Prepare For Creepy-Crawlies And Such Like
You might like the winter months. You might really enjoy the cold. But there will be times where you want to be cuddled up with warm clothes and stuffed into your duvet! You’re not the only being that wants to be indoors, though! Insects and other crawlers will try their best to make their way into your lovely, warm home. Be prepared for their presence with some bug spray or something like that. You don’t want to become infested with these little terrors.
Make Sure Your Heating Is Good To Go!
It’s going to get pretty cold during the months of November, December, January, and February. You might want to check to see whether your utilities are fully-functioning; you’re going to need them. When our central heating services are happily working with no problems; we tend to take them for granted. It’s only when they’re on the blink that we decide that they’re sort of important!
If you have a heating oil tank at home, then you might want to check that it’s all good to go – you could get in touch with companies like Quarles heating oil service and let them help you out with all of those specific and technical methods. Even if your boiler isn’t exactly struggling, it might be a good idea to call someone up and let them take a look at it anyway – it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Check The Windows
During the times where the cold winds make an appearance, we can become very cold very fast. One of the ways the cold air makes its way into our home is through the gaps in the windows. Do you have pretty old ones? Because you might want to upgrade them or get them seen to if that’s the case.
The small cavities that form in between the frames and the panes can be a killer in the winter months. If you have an old-style frame such a wood, then changing to a modern-style such as PVC or uPVC might save a lot of issues in the short and long terms. You might also want to get some double-glazing if you’re stuck with a single pane – the more reinforcement you have, the lower the chances of the cold air making an appearance.
Do A Little Work On The Roof If Needed
The roof also has a big part to play in terms of protecting you from the elements. If a few pieces are damaged or faulty, then you might be in a little trouble – especially if you have the loft converted into something! If you can afford to get some roofers to do some work for you, then that’s probably a wise move. If not, then perhaps doing a little DIY and replacing the shingles is something you could do one afternoon.
Consider Insulating The Entire Home
We talked about the small gaps in the windows and the roof, but there are actually large gaps between the bricks and the interior of your home. After a while, the cold air can make its way through the worn-out home and attack those inside it. That’s where something like cavity wall insulation can come in. You’ll have the cavities filled with foam, wool, and polystyrene.
Think About How To Protect Your Pipes
Your plumbing and the plumbing of those around you are pretty important. Again, we sort of take it all for granted, but the pipes and plumbing are such a necessity in our day-to-day lives. We’d be lost and a mess without them. During the super cold days, it can become very easy for them to freeze. You don’t want that to happen. When a pipe freezes, the water turns to ice and can expand hugely. They’ll then burst if they’re not seen to – and that’s not good at all.
In order to protect the pipes, you could run water through them in order to find out where there may be a problem. You could do some manual work and simply wrap them up. You could just leave your heating on for an extended period so that they’ll be nice and toasty for a while.
Don’t Forget The Garden
Your garden matters, too. It’s obviously on the outside, so you’re not exactly going to be rushing to fix things because the priorities are inside the abode, but you shouldn’t completely neglect your yard! If your garden is constantly cluttered, then you might want to organize it and make it a little neater sooner rather than later – you don’t want to be doing those jobs in the freezing cold!
Check That The Outside Lighting Is Good To Go
As you know, it gets super dark at ridiculously early times during the winter. You might want to make sure that your outside lighting is ready for the pitch black. It’s frustrating not being able to see where you’re going! Also, this might sound like a pessimistic view, but criminals enjoy using the darkness, so lighting your home is pretty imperative.
Are Your Security Measures In Place?
Securing your home in terms of the lighting is one thing, but you might also want to make sure that you have other bits and pieces in place just in case. Again, the darkness is around for much longer, so thieves, vandals, and other criminals are more likely to come out and play. Make sure that your cameras, alarms, locks, and gates are all good to go!
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