Chichester Property News: winter

Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 November 2024

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property

Ensure you know where the fuse box, gas safety valve and water stop valve are and how they operate, in case of an emergency (I provide a house guide to my tenants with this information and also show them when they move in).

Keep on top of basic maintenance

Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.

Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping

up.

Avoid condensation

Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly

condensation/mould patches.

Keep windows open throughout the property, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens
and especially during and after showering/bathing and cooking. Use extractor fans
where fitted and wipe down any wet surfaces after using the shower/bath.

Don’t turn the heating off completely

This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave

the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature e.g. 12 degrees.

Fire safety

Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

I believe prevention is better than cure, which is why I pre-arm my tenants with a 'winter maintenance guide' at the beginning of their tenancy and re-issue it as winter approaches. You can download this short guide, free of charge, from www.crjlettings.co.uk/winter-advice

Thursday, 9 November 2023

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property

Keep on top of basic maintenance

Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.

Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping

up.

Avoid condensation

Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly

condensation/mould patches.

Keep windows open throughout the property, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens
and especially during and after showering/bathing and cooking. Use extractor fans
where fitted and wipe down any wet surfaces after using the shower/bath.

Don’t turn the heating off completely

This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave

the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature e.g. 12 degrees.

Fire safety

Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

This article was featured in...

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property

Keep on top of basic maintenance

Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.

Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping up.

Avoid condensation

Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly condensation/mould patches.

Keep windows open throughout the property, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens and especially during and after showering/bathing and cooking. Use extractor fans where fitted and wipe down any wet surfaces after using the shower/bath.

Don’t turn the heating off completely

This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature e.g. 12 degrees.

Fire safety

Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

This article was featured in...

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property

Keep on top of basic maintenance

Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.

Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping up.

Avoid condensation

Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly condensation/mould patches.

Don’t turn the heating off completely

This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature e.g. 12 degrees.

Fire safety

Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

This article was featured in...

Thursday, 26 November 2020

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property

Ensure you know where the fusebox, gas safety valve and water stop valve are and how they operate, in case of an emergency (I provide a house guide to my tenants with this information and also show them when they move in).

Keep on top of basic maintenance

Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.

Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping up.

Avoid condensation

Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly condensation/mould patches.

Don’t turn the heating off completely

This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature i.e. 12 degrees.

Fire safety

Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.

Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

This article was featured in...

Thursday, 12 December 2019

Is it worth buying boiler insurance?

The cold season is upon us and in an effort to keep warm many of us will have turned to a plain looking metal box called a ‘boiler’. When the heating was turned on for the first time it may have been off for months - so did yours work perfectly first time or was it coughing back to life?

Nowadays, many boilers are used all year round to provide hot water so you shouldn't encounter any nasty surprises when turning the heating on too. Still, the fact they’ll ‘just work’ is often taken for granted and these mysterious contraptions do have a habit of breaking down just as you need them most. And a broken boiler can be an expensive fix, landing you with a nasty bill to pay. So, to avoid a dent in your savings, is it best to buy boiler insurance instead?

Many opt not to buy boiler insurance as it becomes yet another monthly expense that seems unnecessary (until it’s needed!). However, each household is different and you should assess whether it makes sense for your own financial circumstances and peace of mind to set aside a fixed smaller amount each month versus the potential of facing a large one-off payment out of the blue.

Quickly browsing some boiler insurance policies online, I found that for £15 per month you can have unlimited repairs, with no excess to pay. Whilst this would equate to £180 per year down the drain if it wasn’t used, most boiler repairs will cost at least that much to resolve; one boiler I had broke down three times with three different faults in a 12 month period, costing a total of £720 to fix (that’s four years’ worth of boiler insurance payments!).

Looking through my records though, only 9% of boilers had repair bills above £180 in any one year; meaning boiler insurance would have been an unnecessary expense in most cases, which I guess is how insurance companies make their money!

Some households may be more susceptible to a breakdown, such as larger families with multiple users using hot water for showering/bathing and with more radiators in the house demanding heating from the one boiler. The boiler’s age may also help determine the likelihood it’ll breakdown; although many insurers stipulate a maximum age for boilers they’ll cover as they know this too!

If you do decide boiler insurance makes sense, you should first check to see if your home insurance covers it or whether it could be added as an extra. Alternatively, there are specialist providers, but whoever you use always be sure to understand what the policy actually covers.

Taking all of this into consideration, it seems to me that if you're on a tight budget, have an older boiler or don't want the hassle of phoning around for plumbers, then boiler insurance might be worthwhile. Having it would certainly help me avoid uneasy calls to landlords with the news of a large repair bill!

This article was featured in...

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative in Chichester, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.

E-mail me on clive@crjlettings.co.uk or call 01243 624 599.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view my previous buy-to-let deals and Chichester Property News articles:

^{_{c/o CRJ Lettings, 30B Southgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1DP}}

Thursday, 21 November 2019

Preparing your property for Winter

The following tips can be applied all year round but they’re particularly relevant at this time of year as it gets colder, darker and wetter outside.

Familiarise yourself with your property
Ensure you know where the fusebox, gas safety valve and water stop valve are and how they operate, in case of an emergency (I provide a house guide to my tenants with this information and also show them when they move in).

Keep on top of basic maintenance
Check roofs and gutters for slipped or damaged tiles and for any leaks. Check overflows and pipework for any leaks as well as damp smells or flaking paint, which may indicate a hidden problem.
Bleed the radiators and check the pressure of the boiler to see if it needs topping up.

Avoid condensation
Build-up of condensation can be more prevalent in winter as more heating is used, clothes are dried inside and there is a tendency to want all the windows shut.

All this moisture in the property needs to go somewhere and will invariably attach itself to cold surfaces (exterior walls/window surrounds) and create unsightly condensation/mould patches.

Keep windows open throughout the property, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens and especially during and after showering/bathing and cooking. Use extractor fans where fitted and wipe down any wet surfaces after using the shower/bath.

Don’t turn the heating off completely
This is very important to prevent the freezing of the water system and expensive burst pipes. It’ll also help in the fight against condensation, which thrives on a changing temperature.

The easiest solution if you are planning to be away from the property is to leave the boiler on and set the thermostat to a low temperature i.e. 14 degrees.

Fire safety
Do not overload electrical sockets with appliances and Christmas lights as this can cause a fire hazard. Avoid using candles, particularly near Christmas trees, decorations and curtains.
Test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

I believe prevention is better than cure, which is why I pre-arm my tenants with a 'winter maintenance guide' at the beginning of their tenancy and re-issue it as winter approaches. You can download this short guide, free of charge, from www.crjlettings.co.uk/winter-advice

This article was featured in...

^{_{c/o CRJ Lettings, 30B Southgate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1DP}}