A heat pump in NZ homes and businesses gets more use during the winter months than any other time of the year, and for obvious reasons. But while a heat pump doesn’t go into hibernation over winter, by and large, we humans do. We tend to shut ourselves away when the weather is cold and do very little around the house, especially in comparison to summer. But while it is nice to rest and recharge over winter, perhaps in front of the fire and with a glass of red in hand, we suggest you do a few of these things first.
- You guessed it. Booking in a heat pump service should be at the top of your list. It’s probably been a while since you’ve had it checked over and you’ll be amazed how much better it will operate once we’ve worked our magic.
- Clear the roof gutters. This is another one of those household jobs that most people put off for too long. As a result, the gutters become clogged with leaves, and other debris, which becomes a nesting and feeding place for birds and rodents. The weight of all this vegetation can cause the gutters to come loose from their fastenings, and this collapse can damage the fascia and other surrounding roof structures. Plus, blocked gutters stop water flow to the downpipes – instead water will flow over the top of the gutters and, even worse, enter the house itself where it can cause all sorts of damage.
- Clean and store your barbecue. Give it a good clean so that food scraps on the plates and grills don’t attract pests like cockroaches and rodents. Once they find this food source, they’ll happily nest in your barbecue and could give you a rude shock in summer. Cover your newly clean barbecue and lock it up in the shed.
- Make your windows and doors draught-proof. A lot of the heat our heat pumps deliver can be lost when there are big gaps around doors and windows – and this is a waste of money. We highly recommend weather-stripping any areas that let wintry draughts into the house.
- Cover outdoor furniture so it stays in great shape for summer. Better still, store it in the garage if you have room.
- If you do have to leave outdoor furniture outside, secure it in case of high winds, You must also do the same with the trampoline if you have one.
- Trim trees with overhanging branches near spouting and the roof. This can save a lot of damage during destructive winter storms.
- Check drainage channels and clean all debris from drains around your property.
By doing these simple things, you’ll reduce headaches, stress and problems over winter. As your highest priority over winter is to stay warm and cosy, we suggest you contact us straight away and book in that heat pump service!