Winter's coming fast, and that means it's time to get your property sorted before the cold hits hard. Whether you're managing a home or business in the North East, a proper winter maintenance routine can save you thousands in emergency repairs and keep everything running smoothly when temperatures drop.
Here's your complete checklist to get through winter without nasty surprises.
Start Outside – Tackle Exterior Tasks First
Get Your Roof Sorted
Your roof takes the biggest beating in winter. Check for loose, damaged, or missing tiles now – don't wait for the first storm to find out you've got problems. Look closely at flashings around chimneys, vents, and any roof penetrations. These spots are where leaks love to start.
Gutters Need Attention NOW
Blocked gutters are winter nightmare material. Clear out all leaves, debris, and anything else that's accumulated. When gutters can't drain properly, you get ice dams, water backing up, and potential damage to your roof structure. Not worth the risk.
Check downspouts too – make sure water's flowing away from your building foundations, not pooling nearby.
Windows and Doors – Stop Heat Escaping
Replace window screens with storm windows if you've got them. If not, just remove the screens entirely – they reduce insulation efficiency.
Walk around and feel for drafts near windows and doors. Any air movement means heat's escaping and cold's getting in. Weatherstrip any gaps you find. It's cheap insurance against high heating bills.
Tree and Landscaping Management
Trim back any branches hanging over your roof or near power lines. Snow and ice make branches heavy, and they break. When they fall, they damage whatever's underneath – roofs, cars, power lines, people.
Clear fallen leaves from gutters, drains, and pathways. Wet leaves get slippery fast and block drainage.
Outdoor Plumbing – Prevent Frozen Disasters
Turn off water to exterior taps and drain all garden hoses. Water left in pipes freezes, expands, and bursts pipes. That's expensive damage that's completely preventable.
If you've got sprinkler systems, get them professionally blown out. Any water left in those lines will freeze and crack the pipes.
Interior Systems – Keep Everything Running
Heating System Service
Book your boiler or heating system service NOW, before everyone else realizes they need it. A professional check ensures everything's working efficiently and safely. Change filters while you're at it – dirty filters make systems work harder and cost more to run.
Hot Water Systems
Drain sediment from your water heater. That buildup reduces efficiency and shortens the system's life. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, get a professional in.
Insulation and Air Circulation
Check your loft insulation – it should be at least 270mm deep. Poor insulation means heat escapes straight through your roof. That's money literally floating away.
Reverse ceiling fans to run clockwise. This pushes warm air down instead of pulling it up to the ceiling where it's wasted.
Plumbing Protection – Avoid Burst Pipes
Pipe Insulation
Insulate any exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, or external walls. Pipe insulation is cheap – burst pipe repairs aren't.
Emergency Procedures
Know where your main water shut-off is. If pipes do burst, you need to stop the water flow immediately. Make sure everyone in your household or business knows this location.
When temperatures drop below freezing, leave taps dripping slightly – moving water is less likely to freeze. Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate around pipes.
Fix Leaks Now
Any existing leaks will get worse in winter. Cold weather makes pipes contract and expand, turning small leaks into big problems. Get them sorted before winter hits properly.
Safety and Emergency Preparation
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test every detector and replace batteries. Winter means more closed windows, more heating system use, and higher risk of carbon monoxide buildup. Don't take chances.
Electrical Safety
Check all wiring and outlets, especially in areas that might get damp. Winter weather can cause moisture problems that affect electrical systems. If anything looks dodgy, get it checked by a qualified electrician.
Emergency Supplies
Stock up on essentials – torches, batteries, blankets, and basic tools. Power cuts happen more often in winter weather. Being prepared beats being sorry.
Business-Specific Winter Prep
Commercial Heating Systems
If you're running a business, heating system failure isn't just uncomfortable – it can shut you down completely. Schedule professional maintenance for all HVAC systems. Check backup heating if you have it.
Staff and Customer Safety
Ensure all walkways and car parks are safe. Plan for gritting or snow clearance. Slips and falls are nobody's friend, especially from a liability perspective.
Clear emergency exits and check they're not blocked by deliveries or equipment. Winter weather makes quick evacuation more critical.
Business Continuity Planning
Have a plan for severe weather. How will staff get to work? What happens if heating fails? How do you maintain operations during power cuts? Think through these scenarios now, not when you're in the middle of them.
Don't Forget These Easy Wins
Exterior Lighting
Check all outdoor lights work properly. Winter means darker evenings and mornings. Good lighting improves safety and security. Replace any blown bulbs now.
Ventilation Systems
Clean dryer vents thoroughly. Lint buildup is a fire risk that gets worse when vents work harder in cold weather.
Check bathroom and kitchen extractor fans work properly. Good ventilation prevents condensation problems that cause mould and damage.
Garden Furniture and Equipment
Store outdoor furniture somewhere protected. Snow and ice damage expensive garden furniture quickly.
Service snow clearing equipment – shovels, snow blowers, gritters. When you need them, you really need them working.
Getting Professional Help
Some jobs need professional attention. Don't mess around with gas boilers, main electrical work, or structural issues. It's not worth the risk.
At Nifty Fixes North East, we see the same winter problems every year. Properties that get proper preparation beforehand have far fewer emergency callouts. The ones that don't… well, let's just say emergency rates are higher than planned maintenance costs.
Take Action Now
Start with the exterior jobs while weather's still reasonable. Work through heating and plumbing systems next. Safety checks come last but aren't less important.
Don't wait until the first cold snap hits. By then, everyone's trying to book the same services, and you'll be waiting longer and paying more.
Winter preparation isn't exciting, but neither are burst pipes, heating failures, or storm damage. A few hours of preparation now saves weeks of hassle later.
Need help with any of these winter prep tasks? Our team handles everything from basic maintenance to emergency repairs across the North East. Better to sort things properly once than patch them up repeatedly all winter long.