Seven ways you can prepare your park home for winter
Moving to a residential park home in a beautiful, rural location is an opportunity to join a new community and enjoy a refreshing alternative to urban living.
While modern park homes meet strict standards, older models may offer less protection from the elements in wintery conditions. As specialist providers of Park Home Insurance, we’ll share our top seven tips for preparing your residential park home ahead of the colder months.
Stop draughts
The cold weather will always do its best to find a way into your home. The moment you feel a draught, there are things you can do to lock in the heat. The edges of doors and windows are the biggest culprits, but you might find that there are tiny gaps elsewhere in your park home. Solve this problem yourself with some self-adhesive draught strips or caulk, and work your way around the property sealing these gaps.
Check your boiler
Many homeowners have a boiler for years without ever getting it properly checked over. Sound familiar?
If you recently bought a second-hand park home and haven't had your boiler serviced, you may be wasting both energy and money.
Getting your heating system checked over before the winter months will ensure it won't let you down once the freezing weather comes. If you can afford to, consider upgrading to an eco-boiler, which will help make your park home more energy efficient.
Keep an eye on your radiators
A simple but often overlooked way to make your park home warmer is to ensure your radiators have been bled. Air builds up in the top of radiators, stopping heat circulating correctly and reducing efficiency.
Bleeding your radiators is not as complicated as it seems. Follow this simple guide from uSwitch to get it done in minutes. You could even invest in some radiator insulation foil that sits on the wall behind and reflects heat back into the room.
Look after your guttering
With strong winds and falling leaves, autumn is the worst time for your gutters. If you don't clear them out in time for winter, you may face more issues.
Blocked guttering can easily become overburdened once snow and ice get into the mix. So, it’s best to clean them out before winter arrives. Simply grab some ladders, assess the guttering, and remove any built-up debris by hand.
Check your skirting and vents
The skirting on the outside of your park home needs to be secured tightly to make sure draughts are excluded. Air bricks and vents should be kept clear to allow good air flow and prevent the build-up of condensation.
Protect your pipes
With temperatures falling and water freezing, your pipes run the risk of cracking and even breaking. Insulate your external pipes with foam insulation, known as lagging. This will decrease heat loss and prevent freezing. If you plan to be away from your home for a few days, make sure your heating comes on for an hour or two to protect your internal pipes.
Extra safety
Preparing for winter isn't just about keeping warm, it's also about staying safe on icy surfaces. Consider buying some grit ahead of the icy months to keep your path and steps ice-free and prevent any slips. It could also be wise to install handrails along these paths as an extra measure of stability.
