Winter Weather Essential Checks for Your Home and Car
13 February 2017
We don’t know if it’s just us, but we think that this February is one of the coldest we’ve had in a long time. We’re longing for warmer days, when we don’t have to de-ice the car before setting off for work and our heating bills aren’t through the roof!
But how can we make the best of things during the colder months? Here are some of our top winter weather car tips and cold weather home tips to keep you warm and safe before spring finally arrives.
Check your car battery
One of the most overlooked cold weather car checks is to make sure your battery is in working order prior to setting off. Freezing weather is bad for your car battery, so when you turn your key in the ignition at the start of your journey, just listen to what sounds the engine is making. If it’s making a mechanical groan, and seems to be struggling to start, that’s a sign that your battery could be on its way out.
How do you test a car battery? With the right tools, you can actually test it yourself. However, unless you’re experienced in this field, we recommend getting the advice of a specialist.
B&M Top Tip: if your battery won’t start, it may be possible to jump start your car using a portable jump start.
Run ceiling fans in reverse
Many people think that ceiling fans are just for keeping cool during the summer, but most ceiling units actually come with a switch that reverses the direction of the blades, which makes it warmer. Heat rises, so if the blades of a ceiling fan run clockwise, instead of the usual anti-clockwise, it circulates warm air near the ceiling back into the room.
Make sure you have your winter car essentials in your vehicle
This may sound like an obvious one, but it’s absolutely vital that you store your car winter essentials actually in your car. You never know, you could come back after work to an iced-over car, and your winter car items are no good if you’ve left them at home.
Winter car essentials that you should keep in your vehicle include:
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Quick ice melt (for driveways, parking spaces and patios)
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Extra screenwash
Stop those draughts!
Draughts are common during the winter months, so it will come as no surprise that one of our favourite cold weather home tips is to dodge them like the plague! To stop those pesky draughts from cooling your home down, use a draught snake, which can easily be made yourself using some old socks and a bath towel.
Check your oil and tyres
The great British winters bring with them one certainty: the roads will be more slippery than usual. Therefore it’s absolutely essential that you check your tyres more regularly to ensure they’ve got a good amount of tread. Experts recommend a minimum tyre tread of 3mm over the winter months.
B&M Top Tip: Whilst you’re checking your tyres, check your oil too! If the level is low, or it’s sludgy, your vehicle’s engine won’t run efficiently and you could end up breaking down.
Do you have any winter weather car tips or home hacks you’d like to share with the B&M community? Join the discussion on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - you could even learn something new!
