If you are planning on a Winter break, whether it’s for a fortnight or a couple of months, do make sure that you keep your central heating system ticking over. This will help to ensure that your system runs efficiently and also helps to prevent pipes from freezing. So, turn down the thermostat, and make sure you set the timer to come on once or twice a day.

Secondly, make sure your gutters are kept free of leaves, moss and other debris. If water is prevented from flowing freely and unable to escape from the guttering, then it will cause damp spots in your house. You can fit gutter guards, which are grates or brushes which prevent debris building up whilst still allowing the free flow of rainwater.

For problems with your drains, then it is recommended that you have them professionally jet washed. To prevent the build up of fats, do not pour excess fat or cooking oil down the sink. Instead, pour it into a tin and throw out with your weekly waste collection.

Make sure that you regularly check wooden windows and doors for flaked paintwork and rotten frames. Flaked paint and bare patches on your woodwork can let water in, which will eventually cause the wood to rot. When repairing wooden frames and sills, make sure you scrape out all the rotten wood, and fill with a good quality exterior filler, before sanding and painting.

Finally, examine the exterior walls, checking for loose pointing, cracked render and paintwork. A good masonry paint will provide good protection for outside walls.