How to Avoid Home Emergencies in the Cold Weather

If you are a homeowner, you might already know that when the cold weather comes, you will have to take extra precautions to prevent home emergencies that can cost you your holiday money put aside for Christmas presents. Below you will find a few ways you can prevent costly repairs and nasty surprises in your home, so you can sit back and relax, knowing that you have done everything in your power. 

Get Your Pipes Inspected
Colder weather puts a lot of pressure on your pipework. You might want to get a detailed inspection to make sure that your pipes will not freeze in the wall. If you have a small imperfection in the pipes, they are most likely to burst when the weather gets cold. At the same time, you will need to add more insulation to your pipework that is exposed, especially if you are planning on going on vacation during the winter. 

Take Care of Your Roof

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Another area you should pay attention to is your roof. A full inspection is recommended, so you can fix small gaps and broken tiles before they cause a severe leak, due to a local storm or hailstone blizzard. When the snow starts falling, the weight of it will make cracks spread and you will face an expensive bill for emergency repairs. Get in touch with a local roofing company to get your fall inspection completed. 

Install Flood Lights
When the nights are getting darker, you will be more likely to stay in or spend the nights are your friends’ home. People with bad intentions might take advantage of a dark home, and try to break in or steal something from your driveway. To take care of your driveway security, you can install warning signs, but the most effective method is getting automated flood lights that turn on as soon as someone approaches the perimeter of your house. 

Insulate and Fix Cracks and Gaps

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If you don’t want to pay more than necessary for your heating and electricity, you will need to make your home more energy efficient before the winter. Fix small cracks and gaps, and fill them with insulating foam. If there is a gap between your doors and windows and your brickwork, it might be time to talk to a professional. Add underfloor insulation if you feel the cold more downstairs, and get your loft insulated, too. If your home has old, single pane windows, you might want to change them, and add a thermal curtain or blind for extra insulation.

There are several ways you can prepare your home for the winter storms and wet weather. Look for development areas and try to complete the projects before the cold weather strikes. Pay attention to the condition of your water and drain pipes, get your gutter cleaned, book a roof inspection, and improve your insulation to feel more comfortable at home during winter nights and save money on your heating and electricity bills, too.