How to Winterise Your Holiday Home: A Guide for Inspire Leisure Customers
How to Winterise Your Holiday Home: A Guide for Inspire Leisure Customers
As the holiday season draws to a close, it’s essential to prepare your Inspire Leisure holiday home for the winter months. Winterising your property is crucial to ensure it remains in top condition and avoids any cold weather-related issues. With just a little forward planning, you can have your holiday home winter ready in no time at all!
As the holiday season draws to a close, it’s essential to prepare your Inspire Leisure holiday home for the winter months. Winterising your property is crucial to ensure it remains in top condition and avoids any cold weather-related issues. With just a little forward planning, you can have your holiday home winter ready in no time at all!
The Importance of Winterising Your Holiday Home
Winterising your holiday home is critical for preventing potential damage caused by freezing temperatures, especially to the plumbing system and interiors. Even minor damage during winter can lead to costly repairs, so investing a few hours in preparation now can save you from future headaches and ensure your holiday home stays in pristine condition.
The Importance of Winterising Your Holiday Home
Winterising your holiday home is critical for preventing potential damage caused by freezing temperatures, especially to the plumbing system and interiors. Even minor damage during winter can lead to costly repairs, so investing a few hours in preparation now can save you from future headaches and ensure your holiday home stays in pristine condition.
1. Plumbing Protection: Draining Down Your System
The most vital step in winterising is safeguarding your home’s plumbing. Here’s a guide to ensure your system is ready:
- Shut Off the Water Supply: Find the stop cock under your property and turn it off.
- Open Drain Valves: This includes those around your bath, shower, and near the boiler. Avoid draining the heating system, as it should remain protected with antifreeze.
- Drain Taps and Flush Toilets: Let all taps and showers run until dry.
- Use a Compressor: Attach a compressor to the mains water inlet to expel any remaining water. Turn taps from hot to cold during this process.
- Apply Antifreeze: Add a holiday home-safe antifreeze to toilets and sink drains to clear water from U-bends.
Inspire Leisure often provides professional drain-down services, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you would prefer professional assistance.
1. Plumbing Protection: Draining Down Your System
The most vital step in winterising is safeguarding your home’s plumbing. Here’s a guide to ensure your system is ready:
- Shut Off the Water Supply: Find the stop cock under your property and turn it off.
- Open Drain Valves: This includes those around your bath, shower, and near the boiler. Avoid draining the heating system, as it should remain protected with antifreeze.
- Drain Taps and Flush Toilets: Let all taps and showers run until dry.
- Use a Compressor: Attach a compressor to the mains water inlet to expel any remaining water. Turn taps from hot to cold during this process.
- Apply Antifreeze: Add a holiday home-safe antifreeze to toilets and sink drains to clear water from U-bends.
Inspire Leisure often provides professional drain-down services, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you would prefer professional assistance.
2. Preparing Gas, Water, and Electrical Systems
Walk through your holiday home to switch off all appliances. Disconnect gas and electricity at the mains and remove batteries from devices to prevent corrosion. Consider replacing the water filter when you return in spring. Additionally, cover drains and plugholes to protect against pests.
2. Preparing Gas, Water, and Electrical Systems
Walk through your holiday home to switch off all appliances. Disconnect gas and electricity at the mains and remove batteries from devices to prevent corrosion. Consider replacing the water filter when you return in spring. Additionally, cover drains and plugholes to protect against pests.
3. Avoiding Damp and Musty Odours
Maintaining proper airflow is key to preventing dampness and unpleasant odours that can develop over the colder months.
- Ventilate Thoroughly: Open windows and doors to air out your home. Keep internal doors open and vents clear for better air circulation.
- Open Kitchen Cupboards and Fridge: After cleaning, leave these open to avoid mould development. Defrost and clean your fridge and freezer, removing all food items.
3. Avoiding Damp and Musty Odours
Maintaining proper airflow is key to preventing dampness and unpleasant odours that can develop over the colder months.
- Ventilate Thoroughly: Open windows and doors to air out your home. Keep internal doors open and vents clear for better air circulation.
- Open Kitchen Cupboards and Fridge: After cleaning, leave these open to avoid mould development. Defrost and clean your fridge and freezer, removing all food items.
4. Securing Your Holiday Home
Before departing, ensure all doors and windows are locked. Consider leaving curtains open to let natural light in, which also helps prevent mould growth. Our team at Inspire Leisure can provide additional security tips if required.
4. Securing Your Holiday Home
Before departing, ensure all doors and windows are locked. Consider leaving curtains open to let natural light in, which also helps prevent mould growth. Our team at Inspire Leisure can provide additional security tips if required.
5. Outdoor Maintenance and Furniture Protection
Examine your holiday home’s exterior for any loose areas or gaps, particularly around cladding and seals.
- Clear Gutters: Ensure they are free from debris to prevent overflow and water damage.
- Insulate Exposed Pipes: Replace any worn lagging on external pipes.
- Store Outdoor Furniture: Move items inside or cover them securely to protect them from the elements.
5. Outdoor Maintenance and Furniture Protection
Examine your holiday home’s exterior for any loose areas or gaps, particularly around cladding and seals.
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- Clear Gutters: Ensure they are free from debris to prevent overflow and water damage.
- Insulate Exposed Pipes: Replace any worn lagging on external pipes.
- Store Outdoor Furniture: Move items inside or cover them securely to protect them from the elements.
6. Safeguarding Soft Furnishings
Whenever possible, take soft furnishings with you or seal them in vacuum bags to shield them from dampness. Rearrange cushions and furniture away from exterior walls.
6. Safeguarding Soft Furnishings
Whenever possible, take soft furnishings with you or seal them in vacuum bags to shield them from dampness. Rearrange cushions and furniture away from exterior walls.
Ready for Winter!
Following these steps will have your holiday home prepared for the colder months. At Inspire Leisure, we offer a winterisation service to assist with any part of this process. Whether you tackle it yourself or leave it to us, preparing your holiday home now ensures a smooth start to your holiday season next spring.
We look forward to seeing you back at Inspire Leisure next season, ready to enjoy your home away from home without any winter woes!
Ready for Winter!
Following these steps will have your holiday home prepared for the colder months. At Inspire Leisure, we offer a winterisation service to assist with any part of this process. Whether you tackle it yourself or leave it to us, preparing your holiday home now ensures a smooth start to your holiday season next spring.
We look forward to seeing you back at Inspire Leisure next season, ready to enjoy your home away from home without any winter woes!
