When temperatures fall, your home feels the strain long before you do. With wind pushing at your roof tiles, rain testing every joint and water pipe, and daylight disappearing before you have time to notice a loose gutter, small issues can quickly turn costly.
A cold snap can freeze a pipe overnight, and heavy rain can find any neglected crack. You want your home to feel warm and safe, even when winter ramps up its extremes. Thoughtful care now keeps trouble away later and helps you feel in control during the darker months.
Insulate and protect your pipes against freezing
Exposed pipes lose heat fast and can freeze solid when temperatures dip below zero. A frozen pipe can burst once the ice expands, releasing water into places you don’t want it.
Wrap pipes in unheated areas — lofts, garages, and external walls — with proper insulation sleeves that fit snugly. Lag the hot water cylinder as well to hold more warmth in the system.
When you leave your home overnight or longer, set your heating to run at a steady low level so water keeps moving. Find your stopcock now, not during a leak, so you can turn the water off quickly in an emergency.
You also help prevent freezing by opening cupboard doors under sinks during frosty nights, allowing warm air to reach hidden pipework.
Check your roof, gutters and external structure before storms and heavy rain
Winter rain arrives fast and needs a clear escape route. Gutters blocked by leaves and moss overflow, sending water down walls and into brickwork. Use a stable ladder to clear out debris, then flush through with a hose to make sure water runs freely.
While you’re up there, look for displaced roof tiles, cracks in render or loose flashing that might allow wind-driven rain inside. A small repair now costs far less than fixing damp later.
Review your home insurance to confirm it covers storm damage, and keep records of the maintenance you carry out so you can show you took reasonable care. One firm sweep of vigilance outdoors can prevent expensive disruption indoors.
Maintain reliable, safe heating and ventilation
A warm home fights damp and mould, but only if your heating system works properly.
Book a Gas Safe registered engineer to service your boiler once a year so your radiators heat up evenly and efficiently. Bleed radiators if you notice cold spots, as trapped air reduces output and drives up energy use.
Good ventilation matters too because moisture from showers and cooking needs a path out. Use extractor fans regularly and open windows briefly to refresh the air without losing too much heat.
Prepare a winter-time emergency kit and plan for disruptions
If storms cut the power or snow blocks the roads, you want essentials close at hand. Keep a working torch with spare batteries, a portable phone charger, blankets, bottled water and some shelf-stable food in one easy-to-reach place.
Store important phone numbers — emergency plumber, power company, trusted neighbour — somewhere you can find them in the dark.
Talk with your household about what to do if heating fails or pipes burst, so everyone knows their part. A bit of readiness makes winter’s surprises feel manageable rather than alarming.
