Get your home ready for winter

Work through nine linked tasks to protect your pipes, boiler, and alarms before winter, with a trade needed only for gas faults.

Guides in this project

01Free a stiff or seized stopcock 02Bleed a radiator 03Repressurise a combi boiler 04Lag hot and cold water pipes 05Insulate a boiler condensate pipe 06Winterise an outside tap 07Clear a blocked gutter 08Test and replace smoke alarm batteries 09Fit a carbon monoxide alarm

WR-01Make sure your stopcock turns freelyFollow the guide “Free a stiff or seized stopcock” first, because every later task in this project depends on being able to shut off your water supply in an emergency. Do this early, not halfway through, so a burst pipe doesn't catch you out with a stuck stopcock. If it still won't turn after following the guide, call a plumber rather than forcing it, as a snapped spindle needs an emergency repair. Plan to spread this project across one weekend indoors and a second outdoors; budget roughly £50-£150 total for materials, more if the boiler itself needs attention.

1 can · Silicone lubricant spray

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1 each · Adjustable spanner

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WR-02Bleed every radiator in the houseFollow the guide “Bleed a radiator” on each radiator, starting with the one furthest from the boiler. Do this once the heating has been off for at least an hour, so radiators are cool enough to touch safely. Trapped air causes cold spots and makes the boiler work harder, so this step pays for itself in lower bills over winter.

1 each · Radiator bleed key

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1 each · Small container for drips

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WR-03Top up the boiler pressureBleeding radiators usually drops the boiler pressure, so follow the guide “Repressurise a combi boiler” next to bring it back into the green zone. Check it again the following morning once the system has settled. If the pressure keeps dropping over several days, there's a leak somewhere and you need a Gas Safe registered engineer to investigate.

RULES

1 each · Filling loop hose (if not already fitted)

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KNOW THE RULES

Repressurising using the filling loop is fine to do yourself, but any fault inside the boiler is gas work and must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, not DIY.

WR-04Lag exposed pipes in cold spacesFollow the guide “Lag hot and cold water pipes” to insulate pipework in the loft, garage, or under-floor void, starting with pipes nearest outside walls. Before fixing any pipe clips into masonry or plasterboard, use a cable and pipe detector, and still expect to find something unexpected. An average loft takes a full afternoon; allow longer if pipe runs are awkward to reach.

RULES

10 each · Pipe lagging foam tube (1m lengths)

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10 each · Pipe clips

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector (if not owned)

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KNOW THE RULES

Check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling or fixing into any wall, floor or ceiling, and still expect something to be there.

WR-05Insulate the condensate pipeFollow the guide “Insulate a boiler condensate pipe” straight after the other pipework, since a frozen condensate pipe is the single most common cause of a boiler breaking down in a cold snap. Pay particular attention to any section running outside or through an unheated garage. If the boiler has locked out from a previous freeze and won't reset once thawed, call a Gas Safe registered engineer.

1 each · Condensate pipe insulation sleeve

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1 roll · Waterproof tape

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WR-06Shut down and insulate the outside tapMove outdoors and follow the guide “Winterise an outside tap”, using the stopcock you freed in phase one to isolate its supply. Drain the tap fully before fitting the cover, as trapped water left inside is what splits the pipe in a freeze. Do this before the first hard frost — if it's already turning cold, do it now.

1 each · Outside tap insulation cover

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WR-07Clear gutters before winter rain sets inFollow the guide “Clear a blocked gutter” to remove leaves and debris before autumn rain and ice turn a slow drip into a frozen, sagging gutter. Use a stable ladder on level ground with someone footing it; never lean out sideways. If you're trimming overhanging branches to cut down on future leaf fall, check for nesting birds first (main season roughly March to August) and check whether a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area applies before cutting anything.

RULES

1 each · Gutter scoop

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1 each · Bucket

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KNOW THE RULES

Check for nesting birds (main season roughly March–August) and for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area before cutting any tree or hedge.

WR-08Test and renew smoke alarm batteriesMove back indoors and follow the guide “Test and replace smoke alarm batteries” for every alarm in the house, including any in a loft conversion. Do this before heating use ramps up, since this is when alarms get tested least and homes are warmest and driest. Replace the whole alarm, not just the battery, if it's more than 10 years old.

3 each · Smoke alarm batteries

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1 each · Replacement smoke alarm (if over 10 years old)

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WR-09Fit or check carbon monoxide alarmsFinish with the guide “Fit a carbon monoxide alarm”, placing one in every room with a boiler, gas fire, or wood burner, since these run hardest in winter. Before drilling into any wall to mount it, check for cables and pipes with a detector, and still expect something to be there. This is also a good moment to book an annual boiler service with a Gas Safe registered engineer, as only they can safely check its internal gas and flue components.

RULES

1 each · Carbon monoxide alarm

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1 pack · Wall plugs and screws

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KNOW THE RULES

Before drilling into a wall to mount an alarm, check for cables and pipes with a detector. Gas appliance servicing and any gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, not DIY.

KNOW THE RULES

Before you start: What gas work can I legally do myself?

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