1. Wrap your pipes up nice and warm
No we don't mean give them a hat and scarf but they do benefit from having their own warm jacket - this is known as lagging and will help to stop them from freezing.....or worse....bursting!
2. Roofs feel the cold as well you know!
Did you know that even though it may feel nice and cosy when you are sitting near a roaring fire or when the central heating is on full blast you could be losing as much as 25% of your heat through a poorly insulated roof space. You AND your heating bills would benefit from your roof space having its own warm blanket in the form of some loft insulation. Please remember though - if your property is old or suffers with dampness adding too much insulation without adding ventilation can make dampness matters worse.
3. Those poor neglected gutters
Out of sight and out of mind springs to mind when it comes to gutters- until they block that is!! As many gutters are often at roof level we tend to forget about making sure they are free of debris, leaves etc. until we hear that familiar drip - drip - drip sound of the water hitting the ground or when we see it running down the walls - the latter of which can lead to dampness within the property.
4. Winter holidays and Christmas breaks
If you are lucky enough to be jetting off somewhere warm and sunny in the middle of the British winter then remember to make sure you prepare your house for whatever the winter weather throws at it....no we do not mean snow balls!! We would suggest that you either turn off the water and drain the system down or leave your heating on a constant low or frost setting.
5. Insurance - be protected and be prepared
If the worst happens and the pipes or the water tank burst then you are going to have quite a big issue to deal with. Make sure your insurance policy covers you for water damage, winter weather problems and emergency call outs from plumbers and other contractors!