Useful checks to help prepare your home for winter | Tenant news

Winter will be here before we know it, and colder weather can put extra pressure on our homes.

Taking a look around your home now can help you spot anything that needs attention before winter sets in. Here’s what to look out for.

Radiators and thermostats

Start by turning your heating on for a short time and checking that your radiators warm up evenly. Check your thermostat is working properly and, if you use a timer or heating programme, make sure it’s set to the times you need.

If your radiator stays cold at the top, it may need ‘bleeding’. This removes trapped air and helps it heat up properly. Remember, only attempt this when the heating is off. Watch this video on how to do it safely.

It's also a good idea to check that furniture, curtains and other items aren't blocking your radiators, as this can stop heat from circulating around your home.

Keep warmth in

You can also use an inexpensive draught excluder around the bottom of a door to help keep cold air out.

Try to keep internal doors closed, especially in rooms you're not using, so the heat stays where you need it most.

Before the end of October, you should hang your heavier curtains if you have them. You can find some bargains in charity shops if your budget doesn’t stretch to heavy curtains or - if you have curtains with eyelets, lay two curtains of the same length over each other so the eyelets line up and place two on each side of the curtain pole.

Other checks

It’s easy to overlook some of the smaller things around your home, so it’s worth checking these too:

• Torches: Make sure you have a working torch and check the batteries, so you’re prepared if there’s a power cut.
• Waste pipes and gutters: Look out for leaks, damage or blockages and let us know if you spot a problem.
• Outside lights: Check that any outside lights serving your home are working and let us know if they aren't.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: Test your alarms and let us know if any aren't working properly.
  
  

Reporting repairs

If you notice a problem with your heating, electrics or water supply, report it to us as soon as possible so we can help. Either call our Customer Services Team at Habinteg Direct on 0300 365 3100, email direct@habinteg.org.uk  or log into (you may need to register first) the My Habinteg portal .

Outside office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), please report emergency repairs to our out-of-hours service on 0345 601 3389.

Find more safety advice on our website at www.habinteg.org.uk/health-and-safety.

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