How to prepare your home for winter

Keep out winter chills

Follow our tips to keep your home draught-proof and energy-efficient this winter.

• Block draughts
  Check your home for any gaps where chilly breezes could sneak in. The most likely places are around doors and windows, loft hatches and pipes which lead outside.
• Insulate everything
  To help avoid messy bursts and leaks, get your pipes and water tanks insulated. And if your home's lacking in padding, now's the time to sort this out.

  Check out our advice on insulating your home, or find out about energy grants that could help you to get your home ready for winter.

• Bleed your radiators
  A great way to warm up your home is to bleed your radiators. This releases any trapped air, allowing hot water to fill every part of your radiator and warm your home more efficiently.

Plan for winter emergencies

Don't be left in the dark this winter. Prepare your home for some of the most common winter emergencies with these handy tips.

• Get a boiler service
  Arrange for your boiler to be serviced every year. As everyone starts to switch on their central heating, the surge in gas consumption can lead to a big increase in boiler breakdowns.
• Find your stopcock
  Make sure you know where your water stopcock is located. If you suffer a burst pipe you'll be happy you found it in advance!
• Create a power-cut kit
  Be prepared for the inevitable winter power cuts by putting together a power-cut kit.

Freshen up your home

Set aside some time to make sure your home's in tip-top condition before winter really takes hold.

• Clear out your gutters
  In Autumn, leaves can collect in gutters and drains, leading to blocks and overflows, so it’s best to clean them regularly. Consider investing in gutter leaf guards to help prevent your gutters becoming blocked in future.
• Sweep your chimneys
  If your chimneys are in use, make sure that they get swept every year. This will remove the build up of dirt and grime from your chimney walls. Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousness is optional.

Preparing your car for winter

Driving in winter can be a challenge, so make sure your car's prepared for all weather conditions.

• Prepare your car for ice and snow
  Make sure you've got everything you need to clear your car of ice and snow, including an ice scraper, can of de-icer and a bottle of windscreen washer fluid.
• Create a winter travel kit for your car
  Make sure you stay safe on the road this winter by creating a winter travel safety kit to keep in your car.
• Take care on the road
  Poor weather conditions can make driving in winter very difficult. If you have to drive in snowy or icy weather, make sure you reduce your speed and stick to major roads.

  Take a look at more tips on driving safely in snow and ice.

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We try to make the advice on our website (www.HomeServe.com) as useful and reliable as possible. However, the purpose of this advice section of the website is to provide homeowners and private landlords with general guidance and useful tips only. It doesn't necessarily deal with every important topic or cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals and might not be relevant or appropriate in all circumstances. It is not designed to provide professional advice or financial advice and should not be relied on as such. Click here to read the disclaimer in full.