skip to main content
Home and Contents

9 ways to protect your home against cold weather

12/2022
man watching the snowy view

As winter fast approaches, it’s time to prepare your home for the cold weather. By accomplishing these 9 simple tasks, you can increase your home’s energy efficiency and  help protect it against damage caused by rain and colder temperatures.

 

  1. Arrange for a home energy audit.

    This is done by a professional and can help you uncover any issues or problems with your home before the cold weather sets in.

  2. Feel for under-door drafts.

    You may be surprised at how much energy we lose underneath doors that are not properly sealed. To cut down on energy loss, you can use a “draft snake” or replace the weather stripping beneath your door.

  3. Seal around windows.

    You may be losing heat around your windows as well. By making sure they are properly caulked, you may cut your heating bill dramatically.

  4. Add insulation.

    Many older homes have little or no insulation in the roof space. Adding insulation to the roof space, walls or floors can make a big difference in winter (conserving heat) and summer (keeping the cool air in).

  5. Update your appliances.

    By upgrading an old air conditioning unit or heater, or purchasing more efficient appliances, you can increase your home’s energy efficiency while keeping it warm during those cold weather months.

  6. Change the direction of your ceiling fan.

    Did you know that rotating your fan clockwise produces warmer air, and counter clockwise produces cooler air? It’s true!

  7. Install a programmable thermostat.

    Keeping temperatures lower at night can save you a lot of money on heating costs.Additionally, smart thermostats or temperature monitors will wirelessly alert you to unusually low temperatures in the home, which is a possible sign of other issues that may need to be investigated.

  8. Lower your water heater temperature.

    By keeping the maximum temperature of your water heater just a little lower it will consume less energy, which can also save money.

  9. Clean your gutters regularly.

    Clear roof gutters and downpipes so they can drain properly and won’t cause issues with hail build-up or water overflow during a storm.

This content is brought to you by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (“Chubb”) as a convenience to readers and is not intended to constitute advice (professional or otherwise) or recommendations upon which a reader may rely. Any references to insurance cover are general in nature only and may not suit your particular circumstances. Chubb does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and any insurance cover referred to is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions set out in the relevant policy wording. Please obtain and read carefully the relevant insurance policy before deciding to acquire any insurance product. A policy wording can be obtained at www.chubb.com/au, through your broker or by contacting any of the Chubb offices. Chubb makes no warranty or guarantee about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content. Readers relying on any content do so at their own risk. It is the responsibility of the reader to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the content. Reference in this content (if any) to any specific commercial product, process, or service, and links from this content to other third party websites, do not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation by Chubb and shall not be used for advertising or service/product endorsement purposes. ©2024 Chubb Insurance Australia Limited ABN: 23 001 642 020 AFSL: 239687. Chubb®, its logos, and Chubb.Insured.SM are protected trademarks of Chubb.

Contact us
Contact us

Have questions?

Contact a broker today.