Preparing for winter: home maintenance tips

Frozen pipes or a broken boiler can leave you with costly repairs and a home insurance claim. These simple checks can help you get your home ready before the cold weather arrives.

 

 

The October boiler switch-on

Give your heating a test run on a mild October day, so that you'll have time to sort any problems before you're relying on it to keep warm.

Check that the boiler starts and the radiators heat up. If you spot a leak or an error message, contact a qualified heating engineer.

Check any condensate pipe that runs outside, too. This plastic pipe carries wastewater from your boiler to a drain. Water can freeze inside it, blocking the pipe and stopping your boiler working.

Insulate the exposed section with weatherproof pipe lagging to reduce the risk. Ask your heating engineer if you're unsure which pipe to insulate.

Get your boiler serviced ahead of time

Once you've tested your heating, check when your boiler was last serviced. If it's due, book a qualified engineer before the colder weather arrives.

Some home insurance policies, especially those that include home emergency cover, might state that you have your boiler serviced once a year.

If you're a landlord, you'll need to arrange an annual gas safety check for gas appliances and flues you provide. This is separate from servicing. Use a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas boiler servicing and safety checks.

If your boiler is regularly serviced, this should reduce the risk of your boiler breaking down.

A service gives your engineer a chance to spot small faults before they become bigger problems.

Check your boiler pressure as part of your monthly maintenance check. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the correct range.

If you receive certain benefits, you may qualify for Cold Weather Payments to help with heating costs during very cold weather.

Check the Cold Weather Payment rules and eligibility to find out whether you qualify and how much you could get.

If you live in Scotland, a separate Winter Heating Payment scheme applies. 

Bleed your radiators

Check your radiators as part of your October heating test.

Radiators could have air trapped in them, which stops warm water circulating in them. This could mean your heating system isn't working as it should.

Your home might take longer to heat up. This could cost you more money if you need to leave the heating on for longer.

If your radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom, you might need to bleed it.

Before bleeding a radiator, switch off the heating and let it cool. Have an old cloth and a radiator bleed key ready.

Find the bleed valve, usually at the top of the radiator. Slowly open it with the key until you hear a hissing sound.

Use the cloth to catch any drips. Once water flows steadily, close the valve.

Afterwards, check your boiler pressure. Follow the manufacturer's instructions if it needs topping up.

If you smell gas in your home, follow our guide on what to do if there is a gas leak.

Keep your heating on a timer

If you're planning to be away and temperatures are set to fall, check your heating settings before you leave.

Frozen pipes can burst, causing flooding and even subsidence.

If you're away during freezing weather, keep your heating on low. Check your insurance policy for any heating requirements while your home is empty.

Installing lagging around your pipes could also help prevent the water in them from freezing.

Find out where your stopcock is

Your water stopcock is the valve that turns the cold water supply in your home on and off.

You don't want to be searching for it when water is spilling out of the bathtub or you have a burst pipe.

In winter, cold weather could cause your pipes to freeze. Pressure can build up and cause the pipes to crack or burst.

When the ice melts, water can leak through the damaged pipe and flood your home.

As soon as you notice a leak, turn off the water supply using your stopcock. It's also called the stop valve. This should reduce the amount of water escaping and limit the damage.

Your stopcock usually looks like a tap without a spout, though some have a lever. Turn it to shut off the water supply.

If you're unable to turn the valve, contact a plumber for advice.

Your stopcock is probably in your kitchen, often under the sink. It might also be near the boiler, under the stairs or outside the house.

Its location depends partly on the type of property and when it was built. Places to look include:

• In a downstairs cloakroom or WC
• Under the kitchen sink
• In a utility room or garage
• In the bathroom
• In a kitchen cupboard
• Under the stairs
• In a cellar
• Near a meter, if you have one fitted inside

If you're still unsure where yours is, ask a neighbour. Their stopcock might be in a similar place.

Clear your drains and gutters

Leaves, stones, moss and other debris can clog your drains and gutters. Blockages stop water draining away properly.

To get ready for winter, check your gutters and drains. Clear away anything that's stuck and replace any cracked or damaged gutters.

How to prepare the garden for winter

Secure your garden shed

If you have a shed or garden outbuilding, make sure it's properly secured. Winter weather can damage sheds, so check the roof before the cold and rain arrive.

Check that your shed is in good condition and has a secure lock. This matters all year, especially if you store valuable items such as bikes or garden furniture.

Store any chairs or tables you aren't using in a secure garden shed. Garden furniture could float away during flooding if it isn't secured.

Bring in plants that are vulnerable to cold weather. Take down hanging baskets that could fall in strong winds.

Keep your car safe and secure

If a weather warning has been issued, make sure your car is kept in a secure spot.

If you have a garage, keep your car there. Otherwise, park somewhere clear of debris, falling branches and trees.

Make sure you know what to do in a power cut

Power cuts can happen, and you don't want to be searching for a torch in the dark.

In winter, power cuts can have a greater impact because it's dark for longer. Extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall, can also make them more likely.

If the power goes off, switch off appliances such as hair dryers and irons. They could come back on when the electricity returns.

Call 105 free in England, Scotland or Wales to report a power cut. It connects you to your local electricity network operator. In Northern Ireland, call 03457 643643.

If there's an immediate danger, call the emergency services.

After reporting the power cut, check on your neighbours if you can, especially older people or those who may need help.

Keep an emergency pack somewhere handy, including:

• A battery-powered radio
• A wind-up torch
• A power pack to charge phones or other devices
• An extra pack of batteries
• Long-lasting snacks
• A few sealed bottles of water
• A warm blanket

What do I do when my pipes burst?

If a pipe bursts, turn off the water supply using your stopcock. This should stop more water entering the pipes.

Next, turn off your central heating system and boiler, including the immersion heater if you have one.

If water reaches electrical fittings, switch off the electricity at the mains only if you can do so safely. Don't touch wet switches or equipment.

Water already in the pipes can still escape after you've turned off the supply. Open your taps to drain the remaining water. Flushing the toilets can help, too.

If water is dripping through a ceiling, put buckets underneath to catch it, if it's safe to do so.

Your home insurance may include trace and access cover. This can help pay for finding and accessing the source of a leak. Check your policy to see what's included.

Check your home insurance cover

Home insurance can cover damage or loss caused by events such as fires, floods and burglaries.

Buildings insurance covers the physical building and permanent fixtures, such as fitted kitchens and bathroom suites. The amount you're covered for should reflect the cost of rebuilding your home.

Contents insurance covers your belongings, such as electrical equipment and clothes. Your cover should reflect the cost of replacing them.

If you don't have enough cover, you could be caught out when you need to make a claim.

If you have too much cover, you could be paying more than you need to. See our guide to how much home insurance cover you need.

Most policies cover damage from storms or flooding, subject to their terms and exclusions. Your insurer could pay for repairs or rebuilding.

Your policy may also cover alternative accommodation if your home is uninhabitable.

Every policy is different, so check yours before bad weather arrives.

You may also need to pay a home insurance excess when making a claim.

Storm damage and home insurance - what's covered?

Insurers might refuse some claims for storm damage.

General wear and tear is usually excluded. An insurer might refuse a claim if roof tiles were already damaged or damp existed before the storm.

If you need to make a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible.

Take photos of the damage and keep a record of your communications with your insurer and any other parties.

Your insurer may want you to use an approved tradesperson. Check before hiring someone to carry out work.

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