Ready for winter: the autumn home checklist
A new build is tighter and warmer than an old house, but it still needs an autumn once-over. Ten minutes per item, before the first frost.
Before the first frost, make time for a few checks around the home.
Review your heating schedule as the evenings get darker. The clocks go back on 25 October.
Check the service schedule for your boiler or heat pump, including any warranty requirements.
Protect exposed water pipes and outside taps from frost, following the installation guidance.
Clear leaves from accessible drains; arrange help for gutters you cannot reach safely.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms according to their instructions.
Check when your broadband contract ends and when any price change is due.
The energy price cap limits unit rates and standing charges for covered tariffs, rather than setting a maximum household bill. What you pay also depends on how much energy you use.
Source: Ofgem — Energy price cap and standing charges explained
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/your-energy-bill/energy-price-cap-and-standing-charges-explained
For the money side of the season, read Beat the Budget:
https://wikihomespec-com-1.ghost.io/beat-the-budget-october-2026/