Get all the hard work out of the way before the worst chill sets in
Whether you live in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern, when you’re busy enjoying summer, winter is equally inevitable so it’s never too late nor early for that matter to prepare.
The popular TV show, Game of Thrones, has many well-known phrases but perhaps the most notable is “Winter is coming”. And, unfortunately (or fortunately, if you’re a “winter person”), that statement is true for us in the Southern hemisphere. With its arrival, it means we need to start prepare – our homes, lives, and so on.
Your Home in the Winter
It appears that a significant proportion of heat is lost via open doors and windows. Sky-rocketing heating bills come as a result of replacing heat. Thus, if you can reduce heat loss, you can reduce heat expense. Before winter arrives, make sure you insulate your home properly. This will not only just save you on bills, but also in terms of heat.
We could also replace certain appliances or use them in different ways. For example, outside items might be covered or replaced. You need to ascertain whether you need to keep or replace timber poles, for example, instead of sitting idly by while things erode.
Regardless of whether you have fireplaces, central heating, a boiler etc, oil and gas canisters might need to be replaced, especially if they are kept outside. You don’t want to find yourself lifting a huge container filled with dangerous chemicals in the coldest part of winter, to a freezing house.
Leaks can become a hazard. Even small holes can lead to flooding, if we are unaware of them. So make an inspection of your home, find all the places where you can see outside and fix them with the appropriate material – like plaster or a silicon gun.
Importantly, the American CDC points out that as we age, we lose ability to determine temperature. This is why we require an accurate measure, like a thermometer, to indicate to us what the temperature is – not what we think it is. After all, not catering to proper temperature could see us fall into dangerous levels of sickness. So prepare but not only installing one, but measuring it every month to ascertain it is actually working.
Another item to install that must be checked often is perhaps a smoke detector. As we will increasingly use items that we light to keep warm, we can’t always detect when they might malfunction and start a blaze. Having a smoke detector, especially during cold winter nights when we’re asleep, matters a great deal to protect us.
All of these are not just directly about keeping warm but about maintaining a level of security and health through months that take a toll sometimes more so than summer.
Author Bio
Emily Apple is a freelance writer, artist and jewellery designer. She is a firm believer in filling her days with positive information, people and experiences to achieve a fulfilling life – a quest she takes most seriously. She lives in sunny South Africa, but spends as much time as possible exploring the world.
