Buying Guide

Tips for looking after your home

Frost Precautions

In cold weather try to keep your home reasonably warm both day and night. If you are going away and leaving your home empty, even for a few days, turn off the water at the stop cock and drain all water off the system by turning on all taps and flushing the toilet. Make sure that all water has stopped running before you leave home. This will help to prevent damage caused by pipes freezing.

Condensation

Every property gets condensation at some time, especially when the weather is cold and when a lot of moisture and steam are being produced (for example, at bath times and when cooking).

To reduce condensation and prevent mould growth, do the following:

Keep your home reasonably warm most of the time
Do not use liquid propane gas heaters
Provide ventilation by keeping some of the windows open. In winter, open windows a little but only for as long as they are misted up
Whenever possible, dry your clothes outside
Keep kitchen and bathroom doors shut, especially when cooking, washing or bathing
When cooking, always keep lids on pans and do not allow pans or kettles to boil any longer than is necessary
Avoid putting beds and wardrobes against outside walls

Plastic Windows

If you have PVCu windows in your home:

Don´t use abrasive cleaners as these will scratch and damage the frames; use warm soapy water instead
Don´t fix curtain tracks or wires for hanging net curtains directly on to the window frames
Don´t paint the inside of the window frame.

Ventilation

To ensure adequate ventilation in your home:

Never cover external wall air bricks which give under floor ventilation
Never disconnect or block external ventilation into rooms. This could be dangerous if your home has gas heating
Never seal up unused fireplaces without leaving adequate ventilation
If you have plastic windows or modern timber windows, keep the small trickle vent in the window open.

Energy Saving Tips

The following hints will save you money on your heating bills and most of them will cost you nothing:

Draw your curtains when it gets dark and tuck them behind the radiator
Save up to 10% on your heating bill by turning down your room or radiator thermostats (contact office on how to adjust your thermostats)
Do not have your hot water too hot; the thermostat should be set no higher than 60°C (140°F)
Have showers instead of baths as less hot water will be used
Do not overfill your bath
Don´t wash your hands or dishes under running hot water. Put the plug in the sink or use a washing-up bowl
Turn off unnecessary lights
Use pale coloured lampshades as darker colours hide the light
When you need to change a bulb, replace it with a low energy bulb; they cost more, but last longer and in the long run save money
Don´t use the cooker to heat the kitchen
Always put lids on saucepans when cooking
Don´t boil more water than you need in your kettle
Defrost fridges and freezers regularly and open and close the doors as quickly as possible