How should you be caring for your home during winter?

While the winter months allow for a season of cosy activities, unfortunately, it can also bring treacherous weather and conditions that aren’t too kind to your home.

From frozen pipes, faulty heating, or damp in the walls, it’s important that homeowners make the right preparations and continue to care for their home throughout the winter months. At this time of year, no-one wants any unwanted bills or worsening issues.

We’ve spoken to a range of trade professionals across the UK to find out exactly what you need to be keeping an eye on during winter to ensure minimal problems and a stress-free season. We’ve also scraped Google search data to find the top queried winter jobs around the home – all to arm you with the awareness and know-how you need before and during winter.

Most trades see an increase in calls around wintertime, with our study showing that 67% of electricians agree.

The electricians we spoke to say their top five most common callouts during this time of year are:

With winter weather being so wet and unpredictable, it’s no surprise that it can wreak havoc with our home’s electricals. While electrical problems may appear confusing, a quarter (25%) of the electricians in our study believe that roughly half of these jobs (between 40-59%) could be conducted by the homeowners themselves.

However, working with electricity has the potential to be very dangerous and there are some jobs that should only be approached by a professional. The top five jobs electricians believe homeowners should never attempt to fix themselves:

When the winter weather sets in, it’s important to make sure the structure of your home is secure and watertight. Half (50%) of roofers and builders agree they see an increase in call-outs over the winter period, as homeowners aim to keep the winter weather where it belongs – outside!

The most common winter callouts for roofers and builders are:

Our study reveals two in five (40%) roofers and builders believe that roughly half (40-59%) of the jobs they get called out for could be attempted by the homeowners themselves. But there are a few jobs that they believe should only be approached by expert professionals:

Whilst winter certainly proves to be a common time for things to go wrong around the home, there is time for us to prepare. Taking expert opinion from our study, we have put together a checklist of jobs you should be doing around the home so you can have a winter without the added stress.

According to our trade experts, these are the areas you need to work on before winter to avoid any surprises when the colder weather sets in.

• Invest in the items you would need during a power cut e.g. Torches, batteries, blankets.
• Check all appliances to make sure there is no sign of any potential issues or faults.
• Check access to the central electrical panel and make sure everything is in working order.
• Make sure all outdoor lighting is in working order.
• Read up on what to do and what not to do during a power cut to remain safe.

• Get the boiler serviced.
• Make sure you are aware where the stopcock is in case of any flooding or issues.
• Make sure pipes are insulated.
• Check the boiler pressure.
• Check there are no potential faults or issues with appliances to reduce any risk of leaks.

• Inspect and clear all guttering.
• Check for any loose or fallen tiles.
• Inspect their loft/under roofing.
• Inspect flashing.
• Check the exterior walls of their home.

According to our experts, there are also jobs and activities around the home that should be done during the winter months to maintain a safe and working living environment.

• Make sure electrical sockets are not overloaded.
• Make sure heating appliances are not covered.
• Keep any unused appliances and electrical items unplugged.
• Don’t leave large electrical appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers on when no-one is home.
• Keep an eye on all outdoor wiring to make sure no wires become exposed.

• Regularly check boiler pressure.
• Use a heating timer to ensure the heating system can run smoothly.
• Don’t put any food or household waste down the sink or any other pipes to stop any blockages.
• Regularly check the loft to make sure there are no leaks and the area remains insulated.
• Keep an eye on all pipes to make sure they are insulated.

• Check and clear guttering regularly.
• Keep an eye on your roof during periods of high winds.
• Look out for loose shingles or fallen tiles.
• Clear roof debris as it builds.
• Keep an eye on the chimney when fires are lit.

While we’re prone to colds and in need of a little TLC in the wintertime, your home is no different! Being prepared is the key to having a warm, dry, and cosy home ready to brace against the winter elements.

While for some issues you may need to call in a professional, make sure you’re prepared for any winter problems by making sure your toolbox is stocked up with all the essential hand tools you may need. We’ve also got an array of central heating supplies and plumbing fittings to help you this winter.