The first in a three-part series sharing tips on weatherproofing your home to combat the Kiwi winter.
Winter weatherproofing for your home isn’t just about keeping warm
The cold outside should make the warmth inside your home cozy and inviting, but is that outside chill seeping inside? In parts of New Zealand winter is known for broken pipes, pests and furnaces that suddenly stop working. All of these things can be inconvenient and expensive to fix once broken.
As well as the costs of emergency repairs a home that isn’t weatherproofed for winter will use more energy, adding insult to injury.
So, what’s the solution?
A bit of preventative maintenance and checking now will save both time and money and you’ll be reaping the health and financial benefits of a warm home before you know it.
Be systematic about checking your houses condition and perform some simple jobs to make sure it’s winter-proof. Take some time over the next few weekends to work your way through our top tips. Best of all, the work doesn’t require a large investment of time or money. Even if you need insulation, this will pay off each time you open your power bill.
Inspecting fireplaces, wood stoves and chimneys
Inspect your chimney. Are there any obstructions such as leaves or birds nests blocking it? Remember to place a chimney cap over the top of it to prevent problems in the future.
A thorough cleaning of the chimney will remove any build up. Scrape the ashes and creosote out of the fireplace or stove when finished.
If this doesn’t appeal hire a chimney sweep and rest assured knowing your chimney is clean and safe for the winter. You may also want to hire a professional to check your fireplace or wood stove.
Cleaning your gutters and roof
Cleaning your roof completely to rid it of leaves, dirt and debris can be both an arduous and time-consuming task better left to the professionals who have the right equipment to do the job quickly and safely. If you don’t remove this debris and snow accumulates on it, this can stress your roof and encourage rot.
When you’re cleaning the roof remember to check it for areas that are in need of repair such as soft areas, chimney damage and loose guttering. While you can check for repairs yourself we recommend hiring a professional to perform a thorough inspection and complete the repair work to protect the investment you’ve made in your home.
Hire a plumber or gutter cleaning company to clean and repair gutters surrounding the roof, checking the downspouts to make sure they’re also clean and in good repair.
