Winter-proof your home

With winter fast approaching, now is the time to give your home a little love and attention so that you are prepared for the colder months and costs don’t unnecessarily soar and plough a hole in your pocket.

Abel Mngadi, Head of New Business and Sales at FNB Housing Finance says; “With winter almost upon us we should be aware that properties are vulnerable to attack from the outside elements. More importantly, you should take care of your property before winter arrives and there are a number of practical ways to winter-proof your home and save costs at the same time.”It’s advisable to do an assessment of the outside structure of your house. This includes walls, windows, doors, floors and roofs. Have a proper look around and what needs to be repaired, sealed or insulated. Gutters and drains should also be cleaned of leaves and debris on a regular basis. Overflowing gutters and drains could drench walls and cause damage to your house.

“Electricity is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to winter costs. There are a number of measures you can put in place to bring your electricity bill down, and proper insulation of your home is one of them,” says Mngadi.He suggests making sure your home is insulated correctly so that heat is not lost unnecessarily. Insulation isn’t just for cold climates. If your home is insulated correctly it will keep your home cooler in summer as well as keep it warm in winter.

Mngadi says that energy efficiency is one of the most practical ways to save and suggests investigating alternative methods to bring down the cost of electricity. A project by FNB Housing Finance in Cosmo City uses sustainable systems, which has brought down the costs of electricity for affordable housing significantly. The system makes use of solar water heaters and insulation fitted into the foundations, which results in the walls and ceilings keeping the temperature self-controlled.

Have your geyser inspected or serviced before winter starts, as they are one of the biggest contributors to electricity bills.”There are a few ways to save on your geyser bill during winter, which include switching it off during the day, or by wrapping it in a blanket or insulating it so that warmth is not lost,” says Mngadi.”The months before winter is an ideal time to get your house in order, so that winter doesn’t cause havoc on your bank balance,” concludes Mngadi.