fit self-adhesive rubber seals to the bottom of draughty doors and to fix window’s that aren’t sealing properly or repair weather strips. A simple sausage-dog draft excluder is easy to make and will stop cold air getting in under doors. Another tip is to use your curtains. Open them when the sun’s shining and warming the house. Close them when it’s dark and cold, they help prevent the warm air escaping. Consider the placement of your furniture. It may be great to have the sofa in front of the heater, particularly for the people sitting on it, but this may prevent the warm air circulating to the rest of the room. DirectAxis marketing head, Marlies Kappers, said that preparing for winter doesn’t need to cost a fortune. “Some sensible spending before it gets cold might mean avoiding bigger costs when a tree falls down or a gutter breaks in the middle of winter.” For more information on household maintenance and renovations visit: https://www.directaxis.co.za/ make-a-plan/prioritise-homemaintenance — Supplied.