Preparing for winter

With the winter season just around the corner, now is the time to make sure both your own home and your investment property are adequately prepared for the cold.

INSULATION

Repair cracks, fix windows that don’t close properly and invest in a few door sausages to seal off any draughts by doors. Your tenants will appreciate it if you leave a couple of these in the investment property too if they are sitting vacant.

HEATERS

Radiant heaters predominantly heat people and objects by direct radiation of heat while convective heaters warm and circulate the air in a room.
Or why not be covered for all conditions with an inverter air conditioning heater. They are incredibly efficient as they do not lose heating capacity based on the outside temperature. Plus, you have the convenience of timers and auto functions to reduce on-time.

RISK

Last year 10% of house fires were caused by heaters and fireplaces, but many could have been avoided through proper maintenance. It’s good practice to check heaters every two years. Ask manufactures or call your gas company for approved inspectors and repairers. You can make heaters run more efficiently by cleaning them and keeping doors shut, but remember, gas heaters do need adequate ventilation to disburse fumes.

DECOR

You might not want the luxury of changing to heavier curtains or rugs, but you can add warmth with colour and texture. Adding throw rugs, painting walls, changing the cushion covers or using slipcovers can all change the atmosphere around you.