Get the outside of your house ready for winter

A multi-day project to clear gutters and drains, protect the outside tap and condensate pipe, and check airbricks before winter.

Guides in this project

01Clear a blocked gutter 02Fix a leaking gutter joint 03Unblock an outside drain 04Winterise an outside tap 05Insulate a boiler condensate pipe 06Clear blocked airbricks 07Unblock a downpipe

OW-01Plan the work and buy your materialsWalk round the house and list every gutter, downpipe, drain, the outside tap, the boiler condensate pipe, and any airbricks that look blocked or damaged. Pick a dry, calm weekend to start, because ladder work in wind or rain is dangerous. Buy all materials before you start so you are not making repeated trips up and down the ladder. For an average semi-detached house, allow one full weekend if gutters are in reasonable shape, or spread the work over two weekends if things are neglected or you are doing it alone.

1 pair · Work gloves

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1 each · Torch

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1 each · Bucket

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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OW-02Clear all the guttersFollow the HomeGraft guide 'Clear a blocked gutter' on every run of guttering around the house, working from one end of the roofline to the other. Do this before fixing joints, so you can see where water actually sits and leaks once the gutter is empty. Expect leaves and moss to be the main culprits in autumn, and check the ladder is on firm, level ground before you climb.

1 each · Gutter scoop

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1 each · Garden hose

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OW-03Fix any leaking gutter jointsWith the gutters clear, run water through each section and watch for drips at the joints. Follow the HomeGraft guide 'Fix a leaking gutter joint' for each leak you find. If a bracket needs re-fixing into the wall, check the area with a cable and pipe detector first, and still expect something to be there even if the detector reads clear.

2 tube · Gutter sealant

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1 each · Replacement union bracket

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1 pack · Wire wool

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OW-04Clear the outside drainsCheck gulleys and outside drains at the base of downpipes for standing water or a bad smell, both signs of a blockage. Follow the HomeGraft guide 'Unblock an outside drain' to clear it. If the blockage will not shift after a reasonable effort with rods, or water is backing up into the house, stop and call a drainage specialist rather than digging further.

1 set · Drain rods

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1 pair · Rubber gloves

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1 bottle · Drain cleaner

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OW-05Winterise the outside tapFollow the HomeGraft guide 'Winterise an outside tap' to turn off the tap's supply at its isolating valve, drain it, and fit an insulated cover. This is one of the most commonly skipped jobs, and a burst pipe here in a hard frost is expensive to put right.

1 each · Insulated tap cover

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1 roll · PTFE tape

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OW-06Insulate the boiler condensate pipeFollow the HomeGraft guide 'Insulate a boiler condensate pipe' for the external pipe that runs from your boiler. This pipe freezes easily in cold snaps and is a common cause of a boiler breaking down in winter. If the pipe is already damaged, cracked, or you are not confident reaching it safely, call a Gas Safe registered engineer rather than working on it yourself.

1 metre · Pipe lagging (foam tube)

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6 each · Cable ties

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OW-07Clear the airbricksCheck every airbrick around the base of the house for leaves, moss, or nesting debris, since blocked airbricks stop underfloor ventilation and can lead to damp. Follow the HomeGraft guide 'Clear blocked airbricks'. If ivy or a shrub needs cutting back to reach one, check first for nesting birds, since the main nesting season runs roughly March to August, and check whether a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status applies before cutting anything woody.

RULES

1 each · Stiff brush

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1 each · Replacement airbrick grille

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KNOW THE RULES

Before cutting back any tree, shrub or hedge, check for nesting birds (main season roughly March to August) and check whether a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area restriction applies.

OW-08Unblock the downpipesFinish the water-clearing chain here, since a blocked downpipe can undo the work already done on the gutters and drains above and below it. Follow the HomeGraft guide 'Unblock a downpipe'. If you need to refit or add a downpipe clip into the wall, check with a cable and pipe detector first and still expect to find something there, even on an outside wall.

1 set · Drain rods or flexible rod

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2 each · Replacement downpipe clip

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OW-09Do a final walk-round before the cold weather hitsOn a dry day, check every gutter runs freely, every joint is dry, the drains and downpipes flow, the tap is covered, the condensate pipe is lagged, and the airbricks are clear. Make a note of anything you were unsure about and get a trade in before the first hard frost, since most of this work is far cheaper to fix now than after a freeze or a flood. Total cost for an average house usually comes to somewhere between £80 and £200 in materials, depending on how much repair work is needed.

1 each · Notebook or phone for photos

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