Winter Checklist: How to Get Your Home Ready for Cold Weather

Brisbane and the rest of Australia are up for another three months of winter. A lot of eastern cities are already experiencing icy winds, and hailstorms. This weather can cause a variety of issues in your home, such as roof leaks, cold drafts from poorly-sealed walls, and damaged pipes.

Here are ways to keep your house in tip-top shape during the cold season.

Make Sure Your Heating System Works Properly

We’ve just transitioned from a scorching summer, so you probably haven’t used your heating system in a while. You don’t want to face the cold season only to find out that your thermostat is busted or your HVAC system isn’t providing the heat you expect.

One of the most common causes of an underperforming heating system are clogged vents and filters. Use a brush and hand vacuum to get rid of dirt from your vents. Remove them and clean the inside, if possible. You’ll also see the filter upon opening the vent. These are a pain to clean and dry. It’s much better to replace them.

If you’ve already gone through these steps and your HVAC still isn’t pumping enough heat, you may have issues with your thermostat or the boiler itself. Call an expert for inspection and repair to make your house comfortably warm in time for winter.

Check and Improve Your Insulation

Even if your heater does function correctly, it’ll work overtime if your home isn’t insulated properly. Check your attic to see if the insulation is at least level with each joist. If there are any that sink below the joist, you may need to add more insulation. If you can barely see the joists because of the foam, there’s no need to add more.

If you want to enjoy the winter on your patio, you could warm it up by installing an insulated roofing system. Proper insulation not only keeps your home warm during winter but also keeps your house cool during warmer weather. So, it’s definitely worth repairing.

Give Your Exterior Water Systems a Break

Freezing temperatures can cause the undrained water in your pipes to freeze and expand. What’s worse is that your pipes may burst when this happens. Before the temperatures start to drop, turn off the valve in your home and let the excess water from your external faucets drain. If you have sprinklers, let a landscape maintenance expert drain it for you. You don’t have to worry much about your indoor pipes if your HVAC system is working correctly.

Australian winters can be brutal, especially if your home isn’t prepared for them. Put these three maintenance essentials on your to-do list this cold season. With a properly maintained HVAC system, sufficient insulation, and drained outdoor pipes, you’ll have fewer headaches to deal with during the winter.

Stay Warm (and Cool) Under Insulated Patio Roofing

Just Patios offers insulated patio roofing with R-values of up to 2.66 on 100mm. This can help you stay cool on your outdoor spaces during summer and warm during winter. And because you don’t need to crank up your space heaters and electric fans with insulating roofing installed, you’ll ultimately get savings on your heating and cooling costs. We’re licenced and insured when it comes to patio construction. Expect only quality craftsmanship and roofing that’s built to last when working with us.

Email us today to get a free quote on your next project.

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