Home maintenance in November

Cold at the top means air in the system. Bleeding takes a radiator key and ten minutes. If they stay cold at the bottom, the system may need a flush.

Draughts round doors, windows and letterboxes are cheap to fix and make rooms noticeably warmer.

After the leaves fall, blocked gutters overflow down the walls and cause damp inside. Clear them once the trees are bare.

A burst pipe in the loft is one of the most expensive winter claims. Lag exposed pipes, cover outside taps and know where your stopcock is.

Slow sinks and a smell from outside drains usually mean a partial blockage. Clearing it early is far cheaper than a collapse.