Getting your home ready for winter

A few hours in autumn can save a lot of trouble when the cold arrives (updated for this winter). Most of these checks need no tools at all, and the rest take an afternoon.

Start outside

• Clear leaves from gutters and downpipes.
• Look for loose roof tiles from the ground with binoculars.
• Seal gaps around window frames with a flexible filler.

Then work inside

Bleed the radiators, test the smoke alarms and find your stopcock so you can turn off the water quickly if a pipe ever bursts.

If anything looks worse than you expected, take a photo and send it to us. We are happy to say whether it can wait.