Keep Your House Covered for a Warmer Winter

Homeowners are 40% more likely to experience water leaks due to cold weather, but the damage may not be covered by their insurance policy. Many will state that it’s the homeowners responsibility to heat their home even if they are away in order to prevent accidents like burst pipes happening. Getting your plumbing system serviced and making sure your pipes are lagged can help prevent these occurrences and, along with other insulation and draft proofing, will keep your home safe and warm in winter.

Lagging Pipes and Insulation

Insulating your water pipes prevents them from freezing or getting damaged.  On cold pipes it can also prevent condensation forming on the pipes. This happens when the water inside the pipe is colder than the heated air surrounding it and can cause issues with damp. Lagging hot water pipes helps reduce heat loss and can raise the water temperature by up to 4 degrees. If a pipe does burst, make sure you know where to turn off the water to prevent further damage before calling a plumber.

Chimneys and Fireplaces

Another area to cover in your home is an open fireplace. When not in use, 14% of air in your home can be lost through a chimney. Check your damper is well fitted and working efficiently, or block the chimney completely with a tightly fitted foam chimney draft excluder. If your house is still chilly, think about adding an extra source of heat. An ethanol fire doesn’t require a flue and can be the cozy main attraction or accent to a living area.

Insulation and Draft Proofing

The US Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 30% of your home’s energy by having it properly insulated and, for optimal energy efficiency, this should extend from the attic to the basement. As well as fitting insulation in the roof and walls, draft proofing smaller areas can make a difference to heat loss.  Weatherstripping can be fitted around windows and doors stop to seal any gaps. Heavy curtains, draft excluders at the bottom of doors and a rug on wooden floorboards will also help to minimize cold drafts and heat loss.

Covering up and adding extra layers is good advice to keep warm in the winter and it works for your house as well. Lagging pipes, insulating walls and covering floors keeps more of the valuable warmth of radiators and fires inside your home for a safe and cozy winter.

Guest Contributor, Cindy Trillo