Expert Reveals: Staying safe and cutting costs in freezing temperatures

“In Irish homes the two main causes of condensation are drying clothing indoors and from the constant changes in temperature from turning on and off the heating, as cold windows are hit with hot air. When possible, try to leave the clothes to dry outside. If you are forced to dry them inside, leave them in a room with the windows open so the moisture in the air doesn’t become trapped in the room.”

“As we now have our first temperature warning of the year, we’ll start to see a significant drop in temperature. Single glazed windows can be a nightmare for condensation. There are ways around this however, investing in a secondary glazing kit is a great, non-permanent way of adding any extra layer of insulation to your windows. These easy-to-use kits can be installed in a few hours without the help of a professional. They also help to prevent hot air from escaping through older windows that may not be fully sealed. Generally speaking, you need to be allowing air to circulate freely around the home, you can do so by leaving doors open and moving the more bulkier pieces of furniture in your home away from the wall, this will help prevent humidity building up too much in a room, while also minimise the amount of dark, damp space where mould is likely to grow.”

advises Ray Brosnan Managing Director of Brosnan Facility Management.

“When the temperature drops, pests will begin to seek shelter for the colder months, your home is an ideal place for them to bunker down. To prevent this, quickly assess your home to see if there are any obvious places that they can gain entry. Pay particular attention to exposed pipes, as even the smallest of gaps can allow pests into your home. Anywhere you can see a gap, fill it with insulation. Those tiny seams between windows and doors can provide perfect opportunities for pests to make their way inside, caulk can be used to fill in these gaps.”

“One natural deterrent that I turn to again and again is rosemary. The strong smell of the rosemary interferes with the mice sense of smell, keeping them far away from the plant and it’s also a great plant to have fresh access, a win-win! Going with plants as a deterrent is a great option if you have pets in your home or if you need to steer clear of chemical options. It can also work well if you are not sure where they are getting in, simply put some pots of rosemary near entry points in your home.”

highlights Ray Brosnan, Managing Director of Brosnan Facility Management

“Investing in chimney brushes or getting in a professional to clean your chimney is an important part of fireplace safety. If you are regularly lighting your fire, I’d advise getting this done at least once a year. To get the most efficient use out of your fire I would advise investing in a stove fan. These help to push the warmth out into the room and helps it to circulate freely around the room.”

notes Ray Brosnan, Managing Director of Brosnan Facility Management

“Whatever method you use to defrost your windows – do not use boiling water! You’d be surprised by the amount of people making this mistake and end up with a shattered windscreen. Another mistake people are quick to make use of a credit card to try to scrape the frost off. However, this can result in scratches and scrapes on the windscreen. Instead opt for lukewarm warm water to quickly melt the frost. Another option is to make a simple solution of 2 parts white vinegar to 1 part water and spraying it on your windows the night before a big freeze. This will help you avoid having to defrost your car in the morning.”

states Ray Brosnan, Managing Director of Brosnan Facility Management