Get ahead of winter maintenance issues - Part 1 of 2
With temperatures dropping and the chilly winter nights closing in much earlier, calls to the lettings team from tenants experiencing winter maintenance issues begins to rise. As a landlord, it’s never good news to learn about costly maintenance problems with your property, so we thought we’d publish a two-part series that highlights a few key things you can do to help ensure you’re prepared as well as can be now that winter is underway.
Check over the boiler
Many common problems during the winter months tend to relate to the boiler not working. If your boiler is experiencing issues, check the pressure gauge to make sure it’s around bar 1. You’ll usually find the pressure gauge at the front of the boiler or down near the pipes at the bottom. If the pressure is at 0 it may simply need re-pressurising. Every boiler is different, so refer to the manual. If the boiler is constantly losing pressure, it may be due to a leak in the heating system, so in this case you’ll want to call a gas engineer.
It’s worth thinking about scheduling your annual boiler service just before winter every year to ensure it’s in good working condition.
Inspect your radiators
Check over your radiators by making sure there aren’t any cold spots at the top. If your radiator is only warm at the bottom, then this may be a sign that it needs bleeding. To safely bleed your radiators, turn the heating off and wait for them to cool down. Then, place a bowl underneath the radiator valve and turn the radiator key until the air stops and the water begins to run. You should find that this solves the problem once the heating is turned back on.
Consider keeping heating on low
It may we be worth considering keeping your heating on low during the day while the weather is cold, even while you’re out. This will ensure everything is running smoothly and the pipes are kept warm. This can also prove cost effective as you won’t have to come home every day and suddenly heat the house up by turning the heating on at the highest temperature, and it will also help to manage condensation throughout the winter months.
Clear the drains and gutters
The past few months have seen the autumn leaves falling, so now is the ideal time to safely clear out the drains and gutters of leaves and debris that are likely to have collected in them. Blockages can cause damp issues among plenty of other problems if water is not correctly draining away from your property, so it’s well worth clearing them from time-to-time - especially at this time of the year.
Locate your stop cock
If you have any leaks, you’re going to want to know where your stop cock is located - so, save the search and find out now if you’re not aware. Pipes often freeze during these colder months, which can cause them to burst due to a build-up of pressure. If you have outside pipes that could be vulnerable and unprotected, then consider purchasing pipe lagging to wrap around them and keep them warm during winter.
We hope these tips from part 1 help you better prepare your property for the winter - keep an eye out for part 2 next week. If there’s anything our team at CPS Homes lettings and estate agents can help you with, such as advice on letting out your property or to learn more about the range of property management services that we offer, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. You can call us on 02920 668585, e-mail enquiries@cpshomes.co.uk or pop into one of our three Cardiff branches.
