Our blog last week raised a lot of interest and questions, so we decided to give you some more ideas on how to prepare your place for winter and also give you some advice on products and services that might help as well.

Carbon monoxide detectors

We are going to start off with the safety side of things because safety comes first. During winter we tend to keep all windows and doors shut which means harmful gases like carbon monoxide are less likely to escape. If you have a carbon monoxide detector, make sure you test it and make sure it’s working. If you don’t have one and need to purchase one, the best brands we identified are Kidde and First Alert. Kidde has some basic options and so does First Alert. If you want more advanced units with digital displays, Kidde has some and so does First Alert. The important thing is to make sure you have one!

Smoke detectors

Most home fires tend to occur during the winter months. This could be because people use their fireplaces more, because they are in doors more or because they have more appliances running at the same time during the winter months. Whatever the cause may be, we recommend you test your smoke detectors and make sure they are functioning. And if worst comes to worst, make sure you have a fire extinguisher as well

Put Your Ceiling Fans on Reverse

If you have ceiling fans in your place, put them in reverse. Changing the rotation makes your fan bring the cold air up and force warm air down. This is a quick and easy way to keep your place warm

Check your windows

Staying on the topic of keeping your place warm, make sure your windows are winter proofed and do not have any cracks or holes. One of the most common ways to let cold air in, or let the heat escape is through the windows, so make sure these are winter proof and secure. If you notice any problems, you can always purchase a window insulator kit to solve the problem. 3M has an affordable window insulator kit that works like a charm.

Check your doors

Windows aren’t the only way heat escapes, doors are just as bad. If you notice a draft coming from underneath your doors, you can winter proof your doors by using draft guards and draft stoppers. If you want something simple, the Twin Draft Guard should do the trick, but if you want something that keeps the heat in and reduces light, noise and smells, then you should consider the MATIXID Door Draft Stopper. It's more expensive, but it may be a more suitable option for you.

In our next blog, we will give you some more advice on how to prepare your place for winter. In the meantime, if you have any other ideas, please comment below, contact us or comment on our social media.