Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

Getting your home ready for winter is easier when you know which jobs to tackle first. Clearing a blocked gutter, fixing a dripping tap or arranging a heating service before the first cold spell can help reduce the risk of problems later.

This winter home maintenance checklist brings together the main checks to make before cold, wet and windy weather arrives, plus a few things to revisit when severe weather is forecast.

Your winter home preparation checklist

Start with any existing leaks, damage or unreliable heating. Then work through these checks:

• Outside: check the roof from ground level, clear gutters and drains, and secure loose garden items.
• Water: check exposed pipe insulation, protect outside taps and locate your stop tap.
• Heating: check that the system works and arrange any servicing that is due.
• Indoors: reduce unwanted draughts, keep essential ventilation clear and test alarms.
• Before bad weather: check local warnings and keep basic supplies and emergency contacts accessible.
• If you are going away: check your insurance conditions and make suitable arrangements for the property.

You can jump to maintenance jobs before winter, checks before severe weather, preparing for time away or emergency contacts and insurance details.

Maintenance jobs to tackle before winter

Check the roof, gutters and drains

From a safe position on the ground, look for slipped or missing roof tiles, damaged guttering and anything that appears loose. Indoors, investigate new damp patches on ceilings or around chimney breasts rather than waiting for heavier rain.

Clear fallen leaves from accessible drains and arrange for gutters and downpipes to be cleared where needed. Overflowing gutters or water running down an external wall can be signs that something needs attention.

Use a suitable professional for roof repairs and work at height. Arrange checks in calm weather, rather than trying to investigate during a storm.

Check fences, gates and nearby trees

Look for loose fence panels, damaged gate fittings and unstable garden structures. Arrange repairs before strong winds put them under more strain.

If a tree has dead, damaged or overhanging branches that concern you, ask a qualified tree surgeon to assess it. Do not attempt work near power lines yourself.

Protect exposed pipes and outside taps

Check the condition of insulation around accessible pipes in unheated areas such as lofts, garages and outbuildings. Replace missing or damaged lagging, and ask a plumber about suitable protection for water tanks and awkward pipework.

Disconnect garden hoses when not in use, fit suitable insulation to outside taps and repair drips. For more guidance, see CCW’s winter water advice.

Find your internal stop tap and make sure you can reach it easily. Check gently that it operates, and ask a plumber for help if it is seized or leaking. Knowing how to turn off the water can save time if a pipe leaks.

Check your heating before you need it every day

Try the heating ahead of the first cold spell. Check that the controls respond, rooms warm up and there are no obvious leaks or recurring fault messages.

Arrange servicing in line with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions. Work on gas appliances should be carried out by an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Use a suitably qualified specialist for other heating systems.

If you use an open fire or stove, arrange chimney sweeping and any necessary checks before regular use. Our guide to keeping your chimney safe covers the detailed maintenance and safety advice.

Reduce draughts while keeping ventilation clear

Check for worn seals around external doors and windows. Suitable draught-proofing can help keep heat in, but do not block air bricks, extractor fans, trickle vents or ventilation needed by heating appliances.

Older and traditionally built homes may need particular care when changing insulation or ventilation. Seek advice suited to the building before making alterations. The Energy Saving Trust’s draught-proofing guide explains the distinction between unwanted draughts and necessary airflow.

Keep using kitchen and bathroom extraction during winter. If condensation or mould is a recurring problem, see our guide to black mould, its causes and prevention.

Test alarms and check escape routes

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms using the manufacturer’s instructions, and check whether batteries or the alarms themselves need replacing. Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do if an alarm sounds.

Keep escape routes clear and keys accessible. Close internal doors at bedtime to help limit the spread of smoke and fire.

Checks before a cold snap or storm

Some preparations need repeating throughout winter, particularly after leaves have fallen or when the forecast changes.

• Check local forecasts and warnings. Follow advice for your area and allow time to prepare while conditions are safe.
• Secure loose outdoor items. Store or secure furniture, plant pots, toys and other objects that could move in strong winds.
• Recheck accessible drains. Remove fresh leaves and debris before heavy rain.
• Prepare the entrance. Keep a shovel and suitable grit or salt available for icy paths, and check that outdoor lighting works.
• Check your supplies. Keep a torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank, warm clothing, drinking water and food that does not need cooking accessible. Allow for medication, baby supplies and pets where relevant.

The Met Office’s winter property advice and the Government’s Be Ready checklist provide further guidance. Check what you already have and build up supplies gradually.

Use torches rather than candles during a power cut. Check that anyone in the household who relies on powered medical equipment has a plan agreed with their care team or equipment provider.

Once the weather has passed, look for new damage from a safe position and arrange repairs where needed. Stay away from loose roofing, fallen cables and unstable trees.

What to check if you are going away

Before leaving home over winter, check the heating settings and any precautions required by your insurance policy. Do not assume that a boiler’s frost setting protects every pipe in the property.

If the home will be empty for an extended period, check when you need to tell your insurer or broker. Heating, water-system and inspection requirements vary, so follow the conditions in your own policy documents.

Our guide to unoccupied home insurance rules explains these requirements in more detail. If you need cover for a longer period of vacancy, see our unoccupied home insurance page.

Keep emergency contacts and insurance details accessible

Save the contact details for your water supplier, electricity network, insurer’s claims team and any emergency assistance service included with your policy. Keep a written copy with your policy number in case your phone runs out of charge.

Check your policy schedule, wording and endorsements so you know what cover you have, which excesses apply and how to report a claim. Home insurance generally does not pay for routine maintenance or wear and tear, so it is worth dealing with existing defects before winter weather makes them worse.

If you have Home Emergency Cover or Home Emergency Plus, check the emergency helpline and the conditions for arranging assistance. Contact the helpline before appointing a contractor under that cover, and follow its instructions. Emergency assistance and cover for resulting damage are separate matters.

Intelligent Insurance customers can find the relevant wording through our policy documents page. Keeping these details ready means one less thing to search for if something goes wrong.