With the colder temperatures at this time of year, along with the recent stormy weather, these changes can have an effect on your home and garden, as well as your bills!

Why not show your property some love on Valentines Day with some of our simple tips below:

Check the gutters on your property

Gutters control the flow of rainwater to protect your roof, walls, foundation and landscape. When neglected, a gutter can cause a leak to your roof and damage to the interior or exterior of your home.

Try to remove all debris from the roof, gutters and down-pipes while checking and repairing any loose bits.

Please be warned, cleaning gutters can be dangerous, so you may need to seek the help of a professional.

Keep the heat on

Turning the heating off is a simple mistake that thousands of homeowners make.

By leaving the heat on, even for just an hour every day, can save your system from having to work extra hard when turned back on to heat your house up again.

Thinking of going on holiday during the cold weather? Most families opt to turn their heating system off completely. By doing so, there’s a risk that pipes will freeze and become brittle during this cold weather, which can cause a leak.

Use Coke or Pepsi to clean clogged drains

When a drain clogs, you may think to go and buy the expensive chemicals or tools to fix it immediately. Why not try the alternative soft drink which may be sitting in your fridge already?

Coke and Pepsi contain phosphoric acid that will eat through the clog.

Clean the area around the drain and remove any large debris such as hair or food. Open a 2-litre bottle of Coke or Pepsi and pour it steadily into the drain (try to avoid splashing it). Wait for the foam to settle, then continue pour until you empty the 2-litre bottle.

Allow to sit in the drain overnight and then pour boiling water down the drain initially and then run hot water from the taps for 5 minutes.

This is a much cheaper alternative than most brand drain cleaners on the market.

Replace your inefficient bulbs with LEDs

LED light bulbs are four times more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and last for many years. If you’ve haven’t updated the light bulbs in your home, consider making the switch now to save yourself some money.

Check plug sockets and power cords

By simply walking around your home and inspecting cords and sockets could prevent a cause of fire.

Ensure the cords are not frayed, paying extra attention to where they have to bend. Also take a few minutes to confirm there are no suspicious black marks around your sockets.

Unplugging any appliance that you do not use regularly can also help save you money.

Switch your supplier

By simply visiting a comparison website can save you money on your energy bills.

Many households continue with their current supplier to avoid the hassle of switching as they don’t have the time or patience. Some people think they don’t have all the information required.

However, you could save hundreds on your energy bills in just 60 seconds by simply completing the short questions on the comparison websites for FREE.

Until Next time
Thomas