Poorly sealed doors and windows will allow warm air to escape and cold air to get in. This can increase your energy bills through the whole of the winter months. The easiest solution is to fit draught excluders to doors and windows.

However, if your doors and windows aren’t working properly they might need servicing or even replacing. We can carry out a service from just £50.

Blocked gutters can cause external walls to get soaked which in turn can cause damp inside your home. In winter months gutters can become blocked with leaves and other debris. When cleaning your gutters ensure they have no cracks or other damage. This is a job you can do yourself or if you’re not keen on heights we can do it for you.

It’s worth checking that all your pipes are properly insulated, as a burst pipe can be a huge problem. Where possible, turn off all outside taps, most houses have an isolation value inside the house.

Make sure you know where your mains stop cock is situated in case the worst happens. It’s good practice to spray it with WD40 in order to help loosen it as they can become stuck if they haven’t been used for a long period.

When houses are exposed to wind, rain can be driven into cracked and gaps around windows and doors or where there is missing render. This can potentially lead to damp problems. Broken guttering and leaking downpipes can also lead to water infiltrating into brickwork and plaster.

There’s nothing worse than having blocked drains during winter. Leaves and other debris can cause havoc with external drains so make sure storm drain grates are clear. It’s always handy to have a drain plunger to clear sink blockages or you can buy drain cleaner liquids from most supermarkets.

It’s also worth lifting inspection covers to check the drains are running freely. A set of drain rods will free most blockages or for bigger problems it’s better to call a specialist.

Doors and windows are the most common entry points for a burglar so make sure your doorframes are strong. If you have a letterbox make sure someone can’t reach through to unlock the door.

Most standard window locks are flimsy but it’s easy to add extra locks. Single glazing is not very protective so it might be worth upgrading to double glazing with robust locks.

Burglars don’t like to be in the spotlight so it’s worthwhile fitting motion sensor lighting at strategic points around your property.

Most garages are easy to break into so make sure your locks are robust and don’t leave the garage door open so people can see what you’ve got inside. If you leave your car on your drive, park close to your garage door so it’s difficult to  open.

Strong winter winds can flatten fencing that’s not secure and heavy rain can loosen fence posts. It’s always worth checking your fencing to avoid expensive repairs.