Welcome to your winter update from Barratt Homes

Winter essentials checklist

• 1) Get your heating system checked

  It is important to arrange for your heating system to be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations (this is usually on an annual basis). Further information on caring for your heating system can be found here.

• 2) Plumbing Precautions

  Please ensure that the water supply to outside taps is switched off and pipes are drained of water during the winter months. In cold weather, water stood inside the pipework can freeze, causing the pipe to burst. Further guidance on how to do this can be found on our Owners Hub here.

  A frozen condensate pipe can become an issue when temperatures drop below freezing and can prevent your boiler from heating your home. Please click here for a useful video by Ideal Heating explaining how to resolve this issue.

  If the issue persists, please arrange for a suitably qualified engineer to attend. 

• 3) Managing Condensation & Moisture Levels

  When the temperature drops during the autumn and winter months, the warm air in your home comes into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and walls, this can lead to increased moisture levels and in some cases, mould. You’re unlikely to prevent condensation completely but you should aim to reduce it to a level so that it doesn’t cause problems. The following advice should help you to achieve this:

  • Leave trickle vents (slotted vents in the window frames) open when rooms are occupied – even in the winter when your heating is on. These vents provide constant ventilation which removes water vapour.
  • Keep your home warm to avoid cold surfaces, and remember that it can take a long time for a building to warm up.
  • While cooking, bathing or washing, use an extractor fan and/or open a window, and keep the door closed. Keep the extractor fan on and/or the window open for about 20 minutes after you have finished (with the door closed).
  • Avoid drying laundry on a clothes airer or radiator. If you need to dry clothes indoors, open the window and close the door of the room where the clothes are drying, so that moisture can escape outside rather than circulate around your home.
  • Any condensation that does form should be wiped up to prevent damage from occurring.

  You may find the following guides useful which contain additional information and guidance on managing moisture levels and condensation in your home:

  UKCMB Moisture in New Homes

  NHBC – Your guide to condensation in your home

• 4) Caring for your garden

  As the wetter months approach, it is common for some areas of a garden to become waterlogged, particularly after periods of excessive rainfall. This is normal and is not considered a construction defect. Further guidance on maintaining your garden can be found here.

• 5) Check guttering

  At this time of the year, guttering can become clogged with debris and leaves, cleaning gutters periodically is an important part of home maintenance. Working at height can be dangerous, so if in doubt, call in a qualified tradesperson to assist you with this.
  

  
  

  If you have an Air Source Heat Pump installed, be sure to check the outdoor unit for debris such as leaves and snow. If something is blocking the unit from pulling heat from the outside air, it might not be able to heat your home effectively.
  

  
  

  When the outside temperature drops below 2.5°C, the de-icing mode will activate for a few minutes, heating up the back of the unit. You may notice steam coming from the heat pump and water coming from the bottom of the heat pump. This ensures the unit is clear from snow and ice, allowing the air to flow freely.

• 6) Check your roof and loft space

  Checking your roof and loft prior to the colder months will save you a lot of money before problems arise. Heavy rain and strong winds can damage your roof, allowing water ingress, so make sure you are visually checking your tiles regularly to avoid bigger problems.

  Remember your loft is not designed for storage, using the loft space for this purpose may affect airflow and cause items to become damp or mouldy.

• 7) Keep up-to-date with your insurance cover

  Finally, check what your building and contents insurance covers and update it if you have made significant changes, such as having purchased an item of significant value. Also, make sure your buildings insurance covers storm damage, as the UK is experiencing more extreme weather events.