Tips on how to prepare your home for winter:

Harcourts Holmwood Merivale - Cindy-Lee Sinclair

With summer now over, the air is crisp and clear, our flower beds have faded, and the neighbourhood trees are radiantly turning a new leaf! Autumn is natures ways of telling us to ready our nests before winter’s blast.

It doesn’t take much to keep your home warm and dry! Save money on those costly winter bills and have an energy efficient home this winter.

1) Fill in the cracks:
Fixing draughts doesn’t cost much and is easy to do yourself.
Here’s what to do:
- Check all seals on skylights, pipes and ductwork.
- Look for gaps between floor boards.
- Check your doors and flooring for draughts (tip: hold a lit candle near the edges to check for any draughts).
- Check your windows, if they rattle or you can see daylight you’ve got air leaks.
- Seal off unused fire places.
You can fix most gaps and cracks with a caulking gun and silicone. Adhesive whether strips are also great for sealing.

2) Make sure you have proper insulation:
Insulation can help cut heat lost by up to 60%. The higher the R rating, the more energy effect. Here’s some tips to make sure you’re getting the most out your insulation:
- Try not to squish or flatten insulation when installing.
- The corners of ceilings, floors and walls must be properly covered (this is where most the heat leaks through).
- Don’t leave any gaps – even if it’s only 5% uncovered, you’ll lose a lot of your heating.
- Remember when installing insulations your safety comes first!

3) Check your outdoors:
Winter can be hard on your home, so it’s worth spending a bit of time checking the outside to make sure little problems don’t turn into big ones. Here are some things to look out for:
- Check your roofing – look for any cracked/broken tiles, or rusted/loose roof sheeting.
- Clear out your gutters and downpipes of leaves and rubbish so they flow freely.
- Cut back any old, rotten or overhanging tree branches close to your home.
- Put away outdoor gear like chairs, tables, BBQs etc. Make sure they are safely secured and not left out in stormy weather.