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Make sure your home is protected against the winter weather with these tips from Tesco Bank
The most common reason that a boiler breaks down in winter is because the pipe that removes condensation from your system freezes. Check your boiler manual to find the relevant pipe. If it appears to have frozen you can usually thaw it simply by pouring warm water over the affected area. Signs your pipe may be frozen include a slurping sound when you turn on the boiler and error messages on the display.
For lots more helpful tips on preparing your home for winter, visit tes.co/winterproofing
How to
Winterproof your home
Move sofas and armchairs away from radiators to let heat circulate. Just a six-inch gap between them could save you 10 per cent on your bills*. Heavier curtains (or doubled up ones) help keep heat in and cold out. But avoid having them hang over radiators: it’s better to tuck them behind.
Give your RADIATORS a bit of space
Boiler breakdowns are far more common in the colder months and insurance cover could help to avoid high call-out repair fees. Home Emergency Cover is an add-on for an additional cost to a Tesco Bank Home Insurance policy, with help available day or night with its 24-hour emergency service for repairs, and up to £1,000 worth of cover per call-out. T&Cs apply. To find out more, visit tes.co/homecover. Home Emergency Cover is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance SA UK Branch.
Love your boiler
Make a cover for your letter box on the inside of your front door or even better, hang a curtain across it in the coldest months. According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing doors and windows can save the average household around £45 a year. Take care not to block vital vents in bathrooms and kitchens – you could use a fan with a timer rather than open windows and let heat escape.
DOUBLE DOWN ON DRAUGHTS
Consider insulating your hot water cylinder (if you have one) to reduce heat loss and cut energy bills. An insulating jacket costs around £15 and should be about 80mm thick. The Energy Saving Trust reckons that could save you £20 a year in heating costs.
Keep your water cosy
Declutter your gutters to prevent a multitude of costly problems from damp to leaks. Use a mix of salt and warm water to unblock drains to reduce the risk of water or flood damage, and trim back bushes and trees that might break windows or cause other damage when the weather turns bad. But don’t get rid of tidied leaves in the garden – they're welcome shelter for small animals.
Tidy outside, too
LISTEN TO YOUR PIPES
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*Source: ScS
