Prepare your Holiday Home for Winter

With the clocks turning back and the nights drawing in, it can only mean one thing; Winter is coming. The seasonal weather can affect our caravan holiday homes and it is essential that we take steps to protect them during the colder periods.

Whether you plan to use you holiday home until the park closes in January or you will lock up in November and leave it until March, it’s key that you consider the following tips to prevent your home from potentially costly damage.

These handy tips don’t include advice on draining down your holiday home, which is paramount to protecting it front costly water damage.

INSIDE YOUR HOLDIAY HOME

• Store your soft furnishings inside vacuum bags or remove them from the holiday home if practical. This will protect them from getting damp.
• Pull your soft furnishing, seat cushions and curtains away from windows and walls, again to stop them getting damaged from moisture build up in the most likely places such as windows, corners and seams. The best way to store your seat cushions is by standing them on their ends so that air is able to flow around them.
• Empty your fridge and freezer, clean them and leave them with the doors open. During the winter months, there’s a chance the weather may cause more electrical problems and if your holiday home power is tripped off and we’re not aware, the damage from the freezer defrosting could be a problem. Not only that but damaged food products can also attract vermin into your holiday home.
• Leave cupboard doors, such as wardrobes and kitchen cupboards slightly ajar to ensure good airflow. We recommend using a cloth or tea towel to hold them safely, slightly open.
• Ensure your windows, skylights and external doors are closed to prevent damage from them blowing open or people unlawfully entering.
• If you have vents in your holiday, ensure they are not blocked for a number of reasons. The first is that they are an important safety feature in areas where gas is used. This will also allow the air to continue to flow through your home, removing any trapped moisture.

OUTSIDE YOUR HOLIDAY HOME

• Check your gutters are clear. If you are in an area where they could get easily block such as under a tree then it may be worth booking our team to clean your gutters.
• Secure your garden furniture and any loose items on your decking or around your holiday home. Where possible, please store your items in a storage box which should also be secured with a lock.
• Know your insurance! Please check what your policy requests for winter protection to ensure you have met the necessary requirements so as not to validate your cover If you have taken out your insurance through the Compass Scheme we offer then this should not be a concern for you.

Find out more about draining down your holiday home by calling in to reception and speaking to our team.