Beating the winter blues

It’s getting a little harder to get out of your warm bed in the morning, signalling that winter is here. As we prepare for cold winter days and long nights, it is worth taking some practical steps to survive the winter blues and protect our financial status.

Specialist loan provider, DirectAxis, gathered tips from some experts about common problems that occur during winter and how to avoid them before they spiral out of control financially.

The advice covers three broad themes: planning ahead, preventative maintenance and conserving heat.

• Planning

Buying winter essentials such as firewood, gas, spare batteries or even replacing old or broken heaters is best done before the weather really turns cold.

Also bear in mind that besides expected increases in the levels and extent of loadshedding, power cuts are more likely in winter if bad weather damages infrastructure and increased demand puts additional strain on already taxed electrical infrastructure.

• Also read: Get your home ready for winter

Similarly, if you’re lucky enough to own a generator make sure you have enough fuel and that it’s maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have an uninterrupted power supply, make sure the batteries are still performing properly.

Some insurance companies will not cover you if your alarm system stops working because the back-up battery is flat. Consider buying a spare – they don’t last forever.

• Prevention

A common theme in the feedback from the experts is that preventing problems is generally less expensive than fixing them afterwards.

You can do most preventative maintenance yourself at little or no cost, although it’s best to get professional help if you’re unsure how to go about it or don’t have the right tools.

In winter rainfall areas, simple maintenance includes making sure gutters are clear of leaves and other debris. The weight of water in clogged gutters can break the brackets that support them. The backed-up water also needs to go somewhere. If you’re lucky it will just pour over the side. If not, the wind can blow it under the tiles potentially damaging ceiling and fittings.

Also check the roof for missing and broken tiles, any that have shifted or other issues that could result in leaks or the wind getting in and potentially causing more damage. Also bear in mind that heat escapes though the roof, so ensuring it’s well maintained should also help you save on heating bills.

If you are looking forward to a nice, roaring fire, check your chimney. You should be looking for blockages such as birds’ nests and soot build up. If there does seem to be excessive soot, it’s better to geta professional rather than risking a fire in the chimney.

• Also read: What does winter mean for your pets?

Take a walk around the house and check for any trees that might blow over, or branches that could break off and damage the house. You may be able to trim some yourself, but if in doubt get a professional tree feller.

While you are doing your walk around, check the perimeter. If you have a fence, has it been tampered with or does it need repaired? Are there bushes that criminals could hide behind or trees that have grown up and may allow them to access your property? As it gets darker earlier and light later in winter, these are sensible security precautions, particularly as you may not see criminals trying to access your property if your outside lights aren’t working due to loadshedding.

• Conserving

Whether you’re using a gas or electric heater, a fire or other means of keeping warm, heating costs money.

The first thing to consider if you want to conserve heat and save money is to make sure your home is well insulated. If you don’t have insulation in your ceiling, it’s worth considering. It’ll keep the heat in during winter and keep you cool in summer. If you have insulation, check to make sure it hasn’t shifted, been torn or damaged.

While you’re in the ceiling, check to see if there’s a cover on the geyser. If not, you may want to think about getting one. Heating water is expensive.

Once you’ve dealt with the roof space, check the doors and windows. It’s relatively cheap and effective to fit self-adhesive rubber strips to the bottom of draughty doors and to fix windows that aren’t sealing properly or repair weather strips. A simple sausage-dog draft excluder is easy to make and will stop cold air getting in under the doors.

• Also read: Five ways to help this winter

Another tip is to use your curtains. Open them when the sun’s shining and warming the house. Close them when it’s dark and cold. They help prevent warm air escaping.

Consider the placement of your furniture. It may be great to put a chair in front of the heater, particularly for the person sitting in it, but it may prevent the warm air circulating to the rest of the room.

Yaasin Nordien, COO of DirectAxis Loans, said preparing for winter doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Some sensible spending before it gets cold might mean avoiding bigger costs when a tree falls down or a gutter breaks in mid-winter.”