Get your Ashford home winter ready!

Have you checked your boiler ready for its winter use, sometimes things can appear to have problems but some you can fix yourself. For example, if you have a power cut, when the power comes back on it can change the timings on your boiler, so may seem like it is not working. If you have a combi boiler, please check the pressure is right, as low pressure will stop this working. If you Google the make, you can find how to top it up. Is it feeling a bit chilly in your home? Does one room feel warmer than another? Have you bled your radiators this year? Try this first before calling out a gas engineer. Sometimes you will find that the boiler is on, the heating is on but nothing is happening, check the thermostat. Are you looking at a blank thermostat and can't work out why it is not showing anything? It could just be that it needs some new batteries.

Have you checked your Gutters before the Winter comes? Check them now before they get covered with leaves and dirt from the Autumn and Winter weather. If they are already full, it may be an idea to clear them before any more piles on top and it creates a leak. Also check your roof for any tiles that are loose as this could create leaks over the wetter months.

Condensation can build up on windows when the warm air hits a cold window. To stop this try opening a window when drying clothes or place the dryer in the bathroom with the extractor fan on and door closed. When this happens on windows, water droplets can form and then this can turn into mould which can build up and create issues. So, it’s best when this happens to wipe down the excess water frequently.

Over these months, unfortunately crimes such as burglaries increase, therefore it is advisable to make sure your property is fully secured. To stop any unwanted guests having access to your shed, make sure it is locked up when not in use.

One thing you should be checking monthly, no matter what time of the year, is your smoke alarms. Have you recently checked your smoke alarms? It is vital to check these at least once a month to make sure your safety and home is not compromised.

If you would like any further advice on how to care for your property or in need of a contractor to help with any maintenance, call your local Ashford estate agents, Evolution Properties today on 01233 501601.