Home care & seasonal
The autumn home checklist that pays for itself
Autumn is the highest-return season in home maintenance. A few dull jobs now (gutters, radiators, taps, lagging) prevent the expensive, cold, wet problems that define a bad British winter.
By Tickover · Published 4 February 2026 · 2 min read
Autumn window
- Gutters, draughts, bleed radiators
- Lag pipes, isolate outside taps
Outside first
After the leaves drop
- Clear gutters and check downpipes run freely
- Scan roof and flashings from the ground
- Repair or book fence panels loosened by autumn gales
- Cut back plants blocking vents or airbricks
- Clear leaves from drains and gullies
Overflowing gutters quietly soak walls and foundations. The gutter guide covers safe DIY limits and fair prices. Pest season ramps up as weather cools: mice, rats and wasps if you are already seeing signs.
Heating and water
Before you need heat every day
- Bleed radiators and restore boiler pressure
- Book a boiler service if it is overdue
- Lag external condensate pipe
- Isolate and drain outside taps
- Lag loft and garage pipe runs
- Test heating on a full cycle, not a five-minute blast
Radiator bleeding is a step-by-step job. Outside taps and loft pipes sit in stop pipes freezing. If autumn already slipped past you, use the compressed weekend winter-proof plan.
Typical autumn spends
Gutter clean
Boiler service
Chimney sweep (if you burn)
Typical UK ranges, mid-2026, as a guide only. Your home, your area and the job itself all move the number. Always compare real quotes.
Safety and comfort
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; replace weak batteries
- Check draught strips on doors and loft hatches
- Bleed towel rails and check bathroom extractors still pull
- If you have a stove or open fire, book the chimney sweep before first use
Autumn, remembered next year
Tickover turns this checklist into timed reminders for your actual home: boiler model, gutter last-done date, and who you used last time.
Quick answers
What should I do to my house every autumn?
Clear gutters after leaf fall, bleed radiators, check boiler pressure, isolate outside taps, lag vulnerable pipes, test smoke and CO alarms, and book a boiler service if the last one was more than a year ago. Those jobs prevent most of the classic winter call-outs.
When should gutters be cleaned in the UK?
Once the main leaf fall has finished in your street, often late October or November, and again in spring if trees overhang. Homes under large trees may need a mid-season clear too.
This guide is general information for UK homes, not advice about your specific property. Anything involving gas must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and notifiable electrical work by a qualified electrician. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999. If you’re ever unsure, stop and get a professional in. That’s exactly what Tickover is for.
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