10 things to do this weekend to get ready for winter

1. Clean your heat pump filters

It’s one of the most satisfying jobs around the house. You just slide the filters out and vacuum them until they’re clear. When you turn the heat pump on afterwards, the difference you’ll notice will make it worth the effort. Our heat pump maintenance video shows you how to do it.

2. Get the electric blanket out

We’re big fans of electric blankets because they’re so cheap to run. You can make them even cheaper by just using them to warm up the bed before you get in – that habit will would only cost you about $1.50 for the whole winter. Compare that to the typical cost of a plug-in heater – 50c an hour. Check your electric blanket for damage before you start using it again, especially the power cord near the controller.

3. Pick up a roll of draught tape

A candle can help you find gaps around window and doors that are letting in draughts – just hold the candle where you suspect a draught is coming from and watch for the smoke going sideways. Once you’ve found the gap, you can take to it with draught sealant tape.

4. Put some fake double glazing up

Double-glazed windows keep your house warmer, and don’t get as much condensation, but installing them can be expensive. You can mimic the effect of double glazing by using a window insulator kit. Basically, it’s a plastic film you cut to size, then shrink to the window using a hairdryer.

5. Curtains

When was the last time you took a good look at your curtains? Flip them over to check for mould on the back and for any visible damage. Clean off any small areas of mould, but if they’re beyond repair, it’s time to think about replacing them. The fit is important when it comes to keeping your place warm so any replacements should sit as close to the wall as possible and ideally, puddle on the floor.

If you like the look, opt for honeycomb blinds instead, they’re the best insulators by far.

6. Get a small fan

This one might look like we’ve mixed up our summer and winter advice, but a fan can also keep you warmer in winter by spreading the heat around the room. Having a fan going on a low setting close to your heater means the heater doesn’t have to work so hard to keep the room up to temperature.

Time for a new electric heater? Check out our test results.

7. Order your firewood – after checking out our guide

Need to order wood but not sure what the difference is between all the types and what’s a reasonable price? Our firewood guide will have you feeling like an expert before you start calling around. Hot mix, unseasoned, thrown measure – you’ll know all the lingo the industry uses, and what each type might cost you.

8. Program your heat pump remote

We caused some controversy last winter when we said you shouldn’t leave your heat pump going all the time. We think it’s a better idea to program your heat pump to come on before you wake up and when you get home if your day is predictable.

9. Organise the chimney sweep.

If you have a woodburner, organise a chimney sweep to make sure it’s working properly once a year. Creosote builds up over time, leading to an inefficient woodburner that’s also a fire risk. If your chimney can be cleaned from the bottom up (from inside) then the job will be cheaper. If your type of fire requires that you need to get on the roof, the job costs climb as you’ll need scaffolding or edge protection as well.

10. Wrap your cylinder

If you have an older hot water cylinder that isn’t insulated, you’re simply throwing money away. While the hot water cupboard is great for helping dry clothes, it’s a waste of energy to have the cylinder uninsulated.

You can buy a DIY kit and easily do the job yourself. Usually, it’s in the form of a big blanket (usually with a fire-retardant layer) that can be cut to size and taped on. Any excess blanket can be wrapped around the pipes for some extra cost savings.