Estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk is reminding homeowners about the importance of property maintenance during the winter months.
It has provided the following winter property maintenance tips:
1. Ensure the boiler is working correctly
This should be done on an annual basis and, if a replacement is not required, can cost as little as £50. If, however, a replacement boiler is required, the expected cost rises to between £1,750-£3,000.*
2. Check the roof
Cracked or missing tiles, along with damaged or misaligned facias or soffits, can let rainwater into the home causing damp and even rot. Any check-ups must be carried out by a trained professional. An inspection should cost around £250, while a minor fix to a tile, for example, will add another £70-£100. If, however, damage to the roof is severe and all the tiles need replacing, it could cost more than £7,000, so regular checks are vital.*
3. Check for blocked guttering and damaged water pipes
If gutter repairs are required, it usually costs £30/metre, while properly insulating pipes costs around £50 and replacing them if they’re damaged can cost £500+. Water damage can also be caused by inadequate brickwork pointing. A simple pointing repair costs £35-55 per metre but can rise to more than £300 if left unchecked.*
4. Consider insulation
Are the windows and doors properly sealed? To find out, an inspection will cost around £150, and if double glazing needs replacing or installing it costs an average of £300 per window. Meanwhile, roof insulation, vital to reducing heat loss, can cost £50-£80 to partially replace or repair, while a full replacement brings the cost up to as much as £500. Further insulation issues can arise from poorly installed window trickle vents, repairs for which can cost £60 per window.*
5. Look after the radiators
If radiators are leaking or aren’t properly and regularly bled, they don’t heat the home efficiently. A simple check-up and bleeding cost about £80, but if any radiators need replacing, they can cost £250 each.*
6. Inspect your chimney
If the home has a chimney, it must be regularly inspected before winter use to ensure it isn’t blocked. If homeowners fail to do this, the risk of a house fire is all too great, the resulting damage of which can be incalculable. A check-up and clean cost as little as £50.*
Colby Short, founder and CEO of GetAgent.co.uk, comments: “In the winter, the efficiency and integrity of the home are often taken for granted. But as the weather turns cold, it can highlight some serious flaws in construction and insulation, flaws that can be very pricey to fix. Addressing such issues at the earliest possible opportunity is the best way of minimising expenses and ensuring a warm and safe winter for everyone in the home.
“But if major repairs are required, it’s essential that qualified professionals are hired for the job. Not only is it unsafe to try and handle repairs yourself, but the quality of the repair will also be inferior and therefore need repeating again much sooner than should be required.”
*Cost of winter-proofing jobs sourced from British Gas, Money Supermarket, HouseholdQuotes, Centralheating-Quotes, MyJobQuote, and Mybuilder.