Safety checks you can make at home

Inside your home

Check your boiler

It's best to have your boiler serviced during warmer weather, as this will give you peace of mind that it's working as it should be, ahead of the colder Winter months.

Check your boiler's pressure level too, to make sure that it's working efficiently. If the gauge is in the red zone (too high or too low), this can damage your boiler, or cause your hot water and heating to cut off. If the pressure is too high, try bleeding your radiators to relieve some of the pressure.

Check your radiators

'Bleeding' your radiators will ensure that there is no trapped air inside them.

Trapped air can cause poor circulation in your heating system, and may stop your heating system from working effectively.

You can check if you need to bleed your radiators by feeling them. If they are cool at the top and hot at the bottom, then they need to be bled.

You could also consider buying insulation tubes, to help prevent heat from escaping as hot water travels through your pipes. They are available to buy online, or from most DIY retailers.

Sweep your chimney

If you have a fireplace in your home, it is recommended that your chimney is swept once a year by a professional cleaner, so they can remove blockages and excess soot.

If you have a log stove or burner, getting your chimney swept reduces creosote build-up. This will help to improve its efficiency, and prevent fires.

Check your roof insulation

Having insulation installed (which serves as a woolly hat for the home) improves its heat retention.

Insulation also helps to stop your pipes from freezing if temperatures become even colder, and can help reduce your energy bills.

Check and clean your extractor fans

Extractor fans gather dust. Cleaning them can help to improve their efficiency, and ability to circulate air.

Make sure that they are working properly - especially in more humid rooms such as the bathroom.

Outside your home

Clean your gutters and downpipes

Natural debris from leaves, twigs and moss can lead to blockages and dampness in your home.

Make sure you:

• check that guttering is in good repair
• check 'stop ends' are in place
• cut back any tree branches and bushes overhanging your gutters

Clean your gully

Check your gully is clean from debris, and draining water away as it should be.

You might want to consider installing gully traps - which can reduce the debris that causes blockages - if you don't have them in place already.

Check your roof

Roofs bear the brunt against adverse weather conditions.

Therefore, it is extremely important to check for any loose or broken tiles (or other repairs that are needed), which might cause intermittent leaks as the weather worsens.

Check your air vents and bricks

You should check your air vents and bricks in walls and flooring - and keep them clean - as this will help to reduce a build-up of condensation in the home.

Don't forget the ground level air bricks, which circulate air to the ground floor flooring.