Busy Families: 6 Quick Winter-Ready Home Jobs (and When to Call a Local Handyman)

The school run is busy enough without adding a leaking gutter, a freezing hallway or a temperamental radiator to the list.

Yet autumn is the best time to deal with small home maintenance jobs. Before the colder weather arrives. Before the rain gets heavier. Before everyone is chasing Christmas dates, school plays and half-term plans.

The good news? You do not need to spend every weekend working through a huge DIY list.

A few quick checks can make your home warmer, safer and better prepared for winter. And where a job needs specialist equipment, a ladder or simply more time than you have, local handyman services can help you get several tasks sorted in one visit.

Here are six practical jobs to prioritise.

1. Book your boiler service and check the heating

A boiler failure is inconvenient at any time. In January, with children at home and temperatures dropping, it becomes an urgent problem.

Book your annual boiler service before winter if it is due. A boiler service must be carried out by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. A general handyman should never service, repair or alter a gas boiler, gas pipework or flue.

You can find and check an engineer through the official Gas Safe Register.

While you are arranging the service, check:

• Is the boiler showing an error code?

• Does the heating take longer than usual to warm up?

• Are there unusual smells or noises?

• Is the boiler pressure outside the recommended range?

• Does the carbon monoxide alarm work?

• Are radiators heating properly?

For homeowners, an annual boiler service is not generally a legal requirement. It is, however, strongly recommended for safety, efficiency and many boiler warranties. Landlords have separate legal duties, including annual gas safety checks for rented properties.

If you rent your home, report heating problems to your landlord or letting agent promptly. Do not attempt gas-related repairs yourself.

2. Clear gutters and check where rainwater is going

Gutters can disappear from your mind until water starts running down the wall.

Leaves, moss and debris build up quickly in autumn. A blocked gutter can overflow onto external walls, windows and doors. Over time, that may contribute to damp, staining and damaged brickwork.

From ground level, look for:

• Water spilling over the edge during rain

• Sagging or disconnected guttering

• Cracked joints

• Loose brackets

• Downpipes directing water towards the property

• Blocked gullies at ground level

Only clear gutters yourself if access is safe and you have the right equipment. Wet leaves, slippery surfaces and ladders are not a good combination. Never climb onto a roof or use a ladder in high winds.

A handyman may be able to clear accessible guttering, secure a loose downpipe or replace a small section. More complex roofline issues, damaged tiles or difficult high-level access may need a roofing specialist.

The Met Office winter property advice is also worth checking before periods of severe weather.

3. Stop draughts around doors and windows

A cold draught is more than an annoyance. It makes rooms feel colder, encourages you to turn up the heating and can allow rainwater into gaps around poorly sealed frames.

Walk around the house on a windy day. Check the usual trouble spots:

• The bottom of external doors

• Around letterboxes

• Window frames

• Gaps around loft hatches

• Unused fireplaces

• Cracks around pipework

• Doors leading to garages, porches or conservatories

Some fixes are simple. A door draught excluder, brush strip or replacement seal can make a noticeable difference. Small gaps around window frames may be suitable for new sealant, provided the underlying frame is sound.

Do not block trickle vents or permanent air vents. Homes still need ventilation to manage condensation and reduce the risk of mould.

A local handyman can often fit draught excluders, replace worn seals, re-caulk accessible gaps and adjust doors that no longer close properly. That is particularly useful when several doors and windows need attention at the same time.

4. Get radiators ready for colder mornings

Radiators often give you early warning that your heating system needs attention.

If a radiator is cold at the top but warm at the bottom, it may need bleeding. If it is cold at the bottom, the system may need further investigation. Gurgling noises, leaking valves and rooms that never seem to warm up also deserve attention.

Before the cold weather arrives:

1. Turn the heating off and let radiators cool.

2. Check for visible leaks around valves.

3. Bleed radiators that have trapped air.

4. Check the boiler pressure afterwards, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Make sure thermostatic radiator valves turn freely.

6. Move sofas, curtains and furniture away from radiators.

If bleeding a radiator repeatedly causes the boiler pressure to drop, stop and arrange professional advice. There may be a leak or another heating fault.

Bleeding radiators is a manageable job for some households. For busy families, it can also be a sensible task to add to a wider handyman visit, alongside checking brackets, replacing faulty valves where appropriate and dealing with minor household repairs.

Do not cover radiators with washing or furniture. It reduces the heat entering the room and can create unnecessary condensation.

5. Protect outdoor areas before storms and frost

The garden and outside areas are easy to ignore when the evenings get darker. A few minutes of preparation can prevent avoidable damage.

Check:

• Garden gates and fence panels

• Shed roofs and locks

• Loose paving slabs

• Outdoor taps

• External lights

• Steps and handrails

• Garden furniture

• Drains and gullies

• Paths that become slippery with moss

Secure or store garden furniture before strong winds. Clear leaves from drains. If you have exposed pipework in a garage, loft or outside utility area, consider suitable insulation to reduce the risk of freezing.

A handyman may be able to repair a loose gate, secure a fence panel, replace an external fitting or make safe a small trip hazard. Larger roofing, electrical or structural problems should be passed to the right specialist.

This is also a good moment to prepare grit or salt for paths and steps. It is much easier to find it in the shed now than during the first icy morning of the year.

6. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

This is one of the quickest jobs on the list. It is also one of the most important.

Press the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Replace batteries where needed and check that alarms are not past their recommended replacement date.

Make sure:

• Smoke alarms are fitted in the right areas

• Carbon monoxide alarms are positioned according to the manufacturer’s instructions

• Nothing is covering or blocking an alarm

• Everyone in the household knows what the alarm sounds like

• You have a simple plan for getting out in an emergency

If an alarm is beeping repeatedly, do not simply remove the battery and forget about it. Check the manufacturer’s guidance. The unit may need replacing.

A handyman can help with suitable like-for-like alarm replacements, mounting brackets and other basic household safety tasks. Gas appliance checks, however, must be completed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

When should you call a local handyman?

A handyman is useful when you have several small, accessible and non-specialist jobs that need doing properly.

For example, your list might include:

• Fitting two door draught excluders

• Adjusting a sticking back door

• Re-sealing a small gap around a window

• Clearing accessible guttering

• Securing a loose gate

• Replacing cupboard handles

• Fitting a shelf or curtain rail

• Checking smoke alarm fittings

• Completing minor making-good after a repair

Grouping tasks together is often more efficient than booking several separate visits. It also stops small jobs sitting on the list for months.

Before booking, send photographs and explain exactly what needs doing. Ask whether the price is hourly, fixed or based on a half-day visit. Check whether materials are included and whether the professional has public liability insurance.

A reliable handyman should also be clear about their limits.

Use a qualified specialist for:

• Gas boiler servicing and gas work

• Complex electrical work

• Structural alterations

• Serious damp or water ingress

• Specialist roofing

• Asbestos

• Major plumbing faults

• Work requiring certification or building control approval

Our guide to what a local handyman can actually do explains where general maintenance ends and specialist work begins.

Make winter maintenance fit around family life

You do not need a perfect home maintenance weekend. Start with the jobs that protect the home from cold, rain and safety risks.

Book the boiler service. Clear the gutters safely. Deal with obvious draughts. Check the radiators and alarms. Then make a short list of the jobs you do not have time, tools or confidence to complete.

Holmes Living Company Ltd provides a one-stop approach to residential property maintenance and practical property services for homeowners, families, landlords and property professionals.

You can book online with Holmes Living Company Ltd or explore our wider property maintenance services.

A little preparation now can mean fewer cold mornings, fewer emergency call-outs and more weekends spent doing something other than fixing the house.

For more practical advice, read our first-year home maintenance checklist and our guide to the signs your home needs professional maintenance.