Winter Ready Home with Aileen Hogan

It’s a good idea to regularly check your radiators are functioning correctly.

When the heating is on, turn up the temperature and check if the radiators are air locked.

An air locked radiator will be hot at the bottom and cold at the top, and sure enough, this one is. Happens every year.

To release the air lock, I need to bleed the radiator with a key which is available to buy in all hardware stores.

Most radiator valves are similar, even if they don’t look identical, but all modern radiators use one size key. Five mm by five mm.

The valve is either at the side or the back of the radiator, and the key simply slots onto it.

Before turning the valve, ensure you cover the floor as water will quickly follow the air release.

Insert the key and turn the valve slowly. You will hear air being released. Keep a hand on the key and close it once you see the first dribble of water.

Feel the radiator again. Now it should be hot from top to bottom.

Now I’ve been caught out by unexpected power loss and from experience, I know when the power goes in this house I have no lights, I have no water, no cooking and no heating except for the open fire.

So here’s my tips on how not to get caught out again.

I assemble an emergency kit that I keep handy.

The first thing that I put in is a good torch with extra batteries, of course, in case the power goes off at night.

Then there’s candles for the living room, and of course, a lighter to ensure I can light them and the open fire.

Water bottles as our water pump runs on electricity, and an absolute necessity is this little portable gas stove, as we have no cooker or kettle without electricity.

And I’ll pop in an extra gas bottle too.

So be prepared this winter and put together your own little emergency kit.

Before packing away your garden essentials for the winter, here’s a few simple tips to help you protect your tools, your outdoor barbecue, and your furniture from rust and mould.

Cleaning, drying and oiling of all your garden tools will help maintain them and prolong their life, as replacing them can be very expensive.

A rub of disinfectant wipes will remove any harmful disease or fungi that could linger before storing.

This is also the perfect time to get tools sharpened.

A thorough clean of the barbecue means it’s ready for use as soon as the weather improves.

Make sure to cover all furniture that can’t be stowed away.

I’m moving all my cushions inside to keep them dry.

When everything is stored away ensure all the doors of the shed are securely closed to prevent wind damage.

Did you know that burglaries rise by approximately 30% in Ireland with the longer, darker days of winter?

Here’s a few things that I’ve done to keep my home safe.

I bought easy to install wireless cameras that give me a full live view up to my front gate and beyond.

The camera app notifies me of movement, and it is all recorded and downloadable.

I can set an alarm to go off on this camera for night time, if I’m alone, or if I’m not expecting visitors.

I hung a motion detector solar light, and positioned it on the side wall to get maximum sunlight, and this lights up the whole area when anyone approaches.

I check all my doors and windows are fully closed and locked before leaving the house.

I also invested in a couple of timers for my lamps. This small investment really is an invaluable asset when you’re not at home yourself.

Timers are a deterrent against burglars and they’re a welcome home to you.

Nobody likes arriving home to a cold, dark house.