Prevent Winter Property Damage: Essential Home Care Tips

Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot, we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.

This rhyme is never more relevant than in winter, which can bring with it a whole range of weather patterns that can affect the condition of your property. MAP Surveyors has compiled some top tips on how to protect your home from damage during a winter spell, avoiding drastic repairs thus saving you time and money.

Look after your pipework

• Have your gutters cleared regularly to get rid of any nasties that could stop the water flowing away properly, and check the downpipes are in good condition, as any leaks could affect the brickwork.
• Install insulation sleeves around exterior pipes to help prevent them from freezing and bursting.
• Have your heating system and chimneys serviced at least once a year to prevent damage caused by fire and smoke.

Check your brickwork

• Get cracks in the brickwork fixed as soon as possible, so that water doesn’t have a chance to freeze in the gap and push the brickwork further apart as it expands.
• Keep air bricks clear to allow air to flow freely beneath the property. If these become blocked, the timbers can become damp and start to rot; causing serious problems, so clear any leaves that may collect around these in autumn.

Trees

• Prune your trees before the onset of winter to reduce the risk of them falling over or losing branches once weakened by wintry weather.
• Get large trees checked if they're near your home, to make sure that the growing roots won’t damage your home’s foundations.

Protect against flooding

• Check if you are at risk of flooding and check whether your home insurance policy covers you against damage caused by flooding. If water levels near your home are rising, move anything you can't bear to lose upstairs to keep it safe from water damage.

These helpful tips were provided by MAP Surveyors, Surveyors in London recommended by reallymoving.

Updated March 2020