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Did you know that getting repairs dealt with is more expensive in the winter months? Not to mention that those dreaded waiting lists feel so much longer when you’re putting up with a persistent draft or a faulty radiator.
It’s better to stay ahead of the game and be prepared - just to be on the safe side. For this reason, Monsterplumb has come up with a nifty checklist of autumn home improvements, so that you can be sure that you’ve covered all bases before the chill kicks in.
☑ Bleed Radiators
Here at MonsterPlumb, we stock an array of radiators. From round top radiators like the Myson radiator featured above to our seam top radiators or popular 400mm towel radiators - we’re proud to show them all off.
That being said, they’re no good if they don’t work. We would be an irresponsible company if we didn’t also advocate for regular radiator maintenance to get the best and most long-lasting use out of your radiators.
To ensure that radiators are on top form for the upcoming colder months, it’s important to bleed your radiator a little. This allows for the radiator to distribute heat evenly.
It’s recommended that you carry this out at least once a year, even if they appear to be working properly. See below for advice on how to bleed a radiator.
How To Bleed Your Radiator:
Before attempting anything, ensure that your heating is turned off to avoid scolding injuries or accidents.
You will need:
- A radiator key - such as this brass radiator key
- A cloth or rag to catch any escaping water
Use the radiator key to slacken the valve at the top of the radiator - turning anti-clockwise. We’d recommend counting how many turns this takes as you do this, as this will make it easier to tighten the valve again once you’re done with draining the radiator.
At this stage, you should be able to hear a hissing sound which indicates that trapped air is escaping. Catch any water that escapes with the cloth.
Once the hissing ceases, quickly retighten the valve, turning clockwise, to stop too much water leaking out. The aim isn't to drain the radiator, just to allow trapped air to escape.
It is now safe to step away and turn your heating system back on, however, we’d advise you to check your boiler’s pressure gauge as bleeding your radiators can cause it to drop. If this is the case and the pressure is too low, you’ll need to top it up using the filling loop.
☑ Clear Guttering
We can all appreciate the satisfying crunch of fallen autumn leaves, but not so much when they’re clogging up your drains and overflowing in your guttering. Now’s the time to dust off those ladders and scoop these area’s clear.
Unfortunately, this may be one of those tasks that you will have to keep on top of. We’d advise acting quickly when the leaves appear dry, since what’s worse than spending time turfing debris out of your guttering? Having to turf out soggy, sloppy debris out of your guttering.
☑ Check Your Alarms and Smoke Detectors
Checking the condition of your home’s alarms is arguably the most important point on this list and is ideally something you should be done at least once a year regardless of the season. Tick this job off the list whilst you’re busy attending to your home.
Don’t let procrastination cost you and your loved ones’ safety. Shop the Arctic Hayes 10 Year Carbon Monoxide Alarm pictured above by clicking here.
☑ Protect Against Moisture, Mould and Mildew
This problem mainly affects the bathroom, due to water vapour hitting cold walls or showers and creating condensation. As well as being visually unappealing, mould can release spores into the air that can lead to health issues - so it’s best to tackle it sooner rather than later.
To solve this, perhaps implement some Speedfit underfloor heating. We’ll admit this isn’t essential, but you should be able to enjoy some home comforts, especially as the cold nights draw in, right?
As well as the luxurious feel, it can be a beneficial, low maintenance way to stay on top of moisture problems that could arise in your home by regulating temperatures.
We’ve just covered ways to dehumidify your bathroom in our blog so please take a look for more nifty, condensation-combatting hacks.
☑ Pipe Insulation
Safeguard your pipework with insulation to prevent them from freezing up in the winter - this is also known as ‘lagging’. This will ensure that the pipes will retain heat, reducing the possibility of bursting.
Loft spaces are usually prone to freezing as they are located in what is typically the coldest part of a building. Outdoor pipes or boilers that are installed in garages may also require pipe lagging, but a reputable installer will be able to advise on this if you are unsure.
Check out all of MonsterPlumb’s pipe installation options here.
So there you have it, that was our top 5 checkpoints to get you ready for the autumn. All that’s left now is to stock up on your jumpers and remember to turn the clock back at the end of October!
Before you go, why not check out our selection of room thermostats and timers, for effortless control over your homes’ heating?
Make sure to keep an eye on the MonsterPlumb blog for regular updates and helpful information regarding your plumbing, heating and more.
