With the temperatures dropping, here are a few handy hints and tips to get yourself and your property ready for the Winter.
Check your boiler
Your boiler is the heart of your heating system and therefore we want to ensure it is working efficiently and economically. If the boiler stops working, there are a few steps you can take;
- Reset the boiler
- Check the pressure on the boiler, anything below 1 bar will result in no hot water or heating
- Look for any error codes on the boiler
For tips on the above, please check your boiler manual. If you do not have the manual, these can usually be found online.
If you have a frozen pipe
If the weather drops dramatically and your heating has stopped working, it’s worth checking your pipes to see if they are frozen because if they are, the quickest way to resolve this will be to un-freeze them yourself, rather than waiting for a contractor to attend.
Click here for some advice on how thaw out your pipes.
If you live in a house and are going away, we recommend setting your thermostat to come on at a low temperature at night, to avoid the pipes freezing. If you live in a flat, you shouldn’t need to do this.
Bleed your radiators
If your radiators have cold spots in them, this means you have air in the system which is preventing the flow of hot water. You will therefore need to bleed them to get them working efficiently.
Click here for more information and a video on how to bleed your radiators.
Mould and condensation
This time of year, it is very common to experience a build-up of condensation and mould.
You can reduce the risk of mould by adequately ventilating and heating your home. Here are some tips:
- Open windows when possible, when cooking, drying clothes, ironing, showering
- Make use of the tumble dryer, if you have one
- Considering the use of moisture traps – these can be bought for as little as £5 online.
- Wiping up any water puddles lying on window sills etc.
- Trying to increase the change of air in the premises by opening windows daily for 30-60 minutes at a time
- Positioning furniture so that it’s a little further away from the walls, so the air has a free flow around the room.
- Refraining from over-filling cupboards to bursting point to allow airflow
- Ensuring trickle vent flaps on windows are open and air vents are unblocked
- Ensuring extractor fans are on and in full working condition, in both kitchens and bathrooms.
Adequately heat your home by:
- Ensuring heating is thermostatically controlled wherever possible at a temperature between 18-21C.
- Make use of any timer facility on your boiler to control heating
- Keeping heating on, at a low setting, all day in colder weather. (This is also more economical than blasting the heating for short periods of time)
- Ensuring that when heating is turned up, this is for a minimum of 3 hours. Any less will worsen the problem as the air will absorb the water vapour more quickly than walls can heat up. Thus, meaning that when heating is turned off, the air will cool quickly causing rapid condensation and cooling walls further.
Removing mould growth:
In the unfortunate case that mould might have appeared, here are the steps to take:
1. Wash the affected area with an anti-mould cleaner or non-ammonia soap/detergent, using hot water. Rinse and dry the affected area
2. Use an anti-mould disinfectant or diluted bleach once the area has been thoroughly cleaned to ensure that most microorganisms have been killed.
3. Any fabrics/clothing/soft-furnishings should be put in the washing machine on as high temperature, but check the labels.
Check your drains are free from any debris to avoid blockages
With Autumn merging into Winter there is lots of debris on the floor which can get into drainpipes and block them.
To make sure your drain is unblocked, check the point at which they enter the ground and clear anything you may see.
Maintain your garden.
In the same way debris can block drains, it can also lie on grass and flowerbeds causing them to rot. Make sure you clear your garden of any rotting leaves or dead plants to ensure the remaining plants and greenery can grow again in the Spring.
Leaks
As well as the colder weather, the winter tends to bring with it, more rainfall. This can unfortunately sometimes lead to leaks.
- If the leak seems to be coming from another property, please inform them of this as quickly as possible.
- If the leak looks to be from external factors such as rain or a burst external pipe, this could be the responsibility of building management. It is therefore advisable to report this to the concierge if the building has one and/or the building manager
- If the leak looks like it’s coming from within your property, try and locate a water stop cock for that room or the entire property. For houses, these are usually found, in the driveway or garden. For flats, these are usually in a boiler cupboard or in a kitchen or bathroom cabinet. If there is a concierge available, they will likely be able to help with this.
- If you cannot locate a stop cock, try to manage the leak as best as possible by catching the water in bowls/buckets and if the leak is only when a certain tap or appliance is used, refrain from using that tap or appliance.
If you notice any kind of leak in your property, please report this to us immediately while also carrying out the above.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are typically brought into property by hitching a ride on peoples clothes, second-hand furniture or luggage after a holiday. We recommend preventive measures such as inspecting for signs of bed bugs infestations, steaming or hot washing your travel bags and clothes, and spraying with insecticides periodically.
Click here for more advice about what to do if you suspect you have bedbugs and ensure you report this to us.
Mice
As the weather gets colder, mice tend to seek warmer locations, unfortunately this tends to be inside. As a tenant, there are various things you can look out for and do to help alleviate the issue.
What you can do
- Keeping the property clean – Mice will be attracted to food sources, particularly in darker locations. Ensure you are cleaning up any food that is left out
- Bins – Keep bins closed and dispose of rubbish as early as possible.
- Set traps – The first thing a pest controller would do is set traps in activity areas. In most instances, if acted upon as soon as signs are noticed, it is likely there will only be a mouse or two in the property and it will not become an infestation. You should put traps down at the first sign of mice activity and monitor the situation. If the problem persist or becomes worse, report to us and further steps can then be considered.
We hope you enjoy this holiday season, and should you need any further help or advice on how to get your property ready for Winter, please get in touch with us today.
The best way to report maintenance issues is via our online Tenant portal, please click here to report an issue.
Please note our Property Management Department’s Christmas opening hours are as follows:
Monday 25th December – Closed
Tuesday 26th December – Closed
Wednesday 27th December – Open 10am-4pm
Thursday 28th December – Open 10am-4pm
Friday 29th December – Open 10am-4pm
Saturday 30th December – Closed
Sunday 31st December – Closed
Monday 1st January – Closed
Tuesday 2nd January – Open
