5 things to do now to get your Wiltshire home ready for winter

After a long, hot summer, Wiltshire’s grass is finally beginning to turn green again, and the much-needed rain has returned. For now, however, the weather remains a mixed bag of rain, warmth, and sunshine and sometimes all on the same day.

It may feel as though the weather cannot make up its mind, but that gives us a valuable window to prepare our homes for winter. Before evenings grow darker, temperatures drop, and harsher weather arrives, there is still time to complete important checks.

From clearing gutters and protecting pipes to reviewing your heating and identifying where warmth escapes, a little preparation now could help you create a warmer, safer, and more energy-efficient home this winter. It could also help you spot minor maintenance problems before wind, rain, and freezing temperatures turn them into expensive repairs.

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon helps homeowners understand how their properties work and explore practical ways to improve them. Spanning 67,000 sq ft, the centre features full-size permanent show houses, interactive educational zones and a Trade Village with more than 200 specialist exhibitors covering everything from foundations and insulation to heating and renewable energy.

With guidance from the NSBRC, here are five practical things you can do now to get your Wiltshire home ready for winter.

1. Check your roof, gutters, drains and chimney

Autumn leaves may look beautiful, but they can quickly collect in gutters and downpipes. 
Blockages can prevent rainwater from draining properly, potentially causing overflowing gutters, damp patches and damage to the outside of your property.

Clear accessible gutters and drains, check that downpipes are secure, and look for cracks, gaps, or signs of water damage. Also, inspect your roof from ground level for slipped or missing tiles.

Walk around the outside of your home after heavy rain. Look for water pooling near the building, overflowing gutters, or areas where water runs down an exterior wall.

If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, have a suitably qualified professional inspect and sweep the chimney or flue before you start using it regularly again.

Leave anything requiring work at height or specialist repairs to an appropriately qualified tradesperson.

2. Find out where your home is losing heat

If certain rooms always feel cold or your heating needs to stay on for long periods, your home could be losing heat through its roof, walls, floors, doors or windows.

Start with simple things. Check around windows, doors, loft hatches, and letterboxes for draughts. Suitable draught-proofing correctly fitted seals, and heavier curtains could help rooms feel more comfortable without a major renovation.

However, you should understand your property before undertaking substantial insulation work. Different buildings require different approaches; especially older Wiltshire homes built with traditional materials.

Insulation should be considered alongside ventilation. Sealing a home without letting moisture and stale air escape can create condensation and other problems. The aim is to develop a joined-up plan for the whole property rather than choosing an isolated product and hoping it will solve everything.

At the NSBRC’s Retrofit Zone and Renovation House, visitors can see how different approaches to insulation, airtightness and energy efficiency work in practice. This can be particularly valuable if you find it difficult to judge products and building methods from brochures or online descriptions alone.

3. Service your heating and test your safety alarms

It is far better to discover a heating problem during a mild autumn day than on the first freezing night of winter.

Test your heating before you need it daily. Check that your radiators warm up properly, review thermostat settings, and arrange any servicing or repairs due. Gas appliances should only be inspected or serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

This is also a good time to test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries where necessary.

If you are considering a new heating system, remember that heating should not be viewed in isolation. Insulation, airtightness, and ventilation all affect how much heat a home requires. Understanding the building can help you avoid investing in a system that is poorly suited to your property.

Homeowners considering heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage or other low-energy technologies should seek expert guidance. The right solution depends on the property, its existing energy performance, the people living there, and the available budget.

The NSBRC lets visitors explore different heating and renewable-energy options alongside the building fabric. It shows how insulation, ventilation, heating, and energy generation can work together as parts of the same system.

4. Protect your pipes and outside taps

Frozen water inside a pipe can expand and split the pipe. The resulting leak may not become apparent until the ice thaws, by which point it could cause significant water damage.

Check that vulnerable pipes in lofts, garages, utility areas, and other unheated spaces are insulated. Make sure you know where your main stopcock is and can operate it if you need to turn the water off quickly.

Disconnect and store garden hoses, check external taps and repair any small leaks. If you are leaving your home empty during the winter, speak to your heating and insurance providers about the precautions you should take.

These may seem like modest jobs, but completing them before the coldest weather arrives provides valuable peace of mind.

5. Look for signs of damp and condensation

As temperatures fall and windows stay closed longer, condensation becomes more noticeable. Regularly finding water on windows, detecting a musty smell, or seeing mould should not be accepted as part of winter.

Check kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and areas behind large furniture for early signs of damp or mould. Use extractor fans where provided, keep ventilation openings clear, and avoid blocking air bricks or vents.

Reducing draughts can make a home more comfortable but should not remove essential ventilation. Homes need a controlled flow of fresh air to manage moisture and maintain a healthy indoor environment.

Persistent damp or condensation may have several possible causes, so seek appropriate professional advice rather than repeatedly treating the visible symptoms.

Plan bigger home improvements with expert guidance

Your winter checks may reveal problems that cannot be solved with quick repairs. Persistent draughts, condensation, cold rooms, and high energy use can indicate your home would benefit from more substantial improvements.

Before investing in new insulation, heating, or renewable technology, understand how the parts of your home work together. A change in one area can affect another, especially with insulation, ventilation, and heating.

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon allows homeowners to explore these options and seek expert guidance before committing to a project.

Its full-size permanent show houses and interactive educational zones help bring different building systems and technologies to life. The centre’s Trade Village is home to more than 200 specialist exhibitors, covering almost every stage of building and home improvement - from foundations, insulation and windows to heating, ventilation and renewable energy.

Visitors can also explore dedicated areas including the Retrofit Zone, which provides practical guidance on improving the energy efficiency of existing homes, reducing household energy use and lowering their carbon footprint.

The NSBRC’s Expert Helpdesk offers free, impartial guidance from experienced professionals on subjects including plans, building regulations, heating and project management.

Rather than relying solely on brochures or online research, visitors can see products and building methods in a practical setting, compare different solutions and ask questions relevant to their own property.

Whether you are dealing with a cold room, planning an energy-efficient retrofit or preparing for a larger renovation, the NSBRC can help you understand the options and plan your next steps with greater confidence.

Visit the National Self Build & Renovation Show in Swindon.

The National Self Build & Renovation Show will take place at the NSBRC on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th October 2026.

Visitors can attend seminars and question-and-answer sessions, watch live demonstrations, access free one-to-one consultations, and meet more than 200 exhibitors.

Whether you are trying to make your current home warmer, planning a full renovation or beginning a self-build project, the show is an opportunity to gather ideas and speak directly to people who understand the process.
You can book free tickets in advance through the National Self Build & Renovation Centre website.

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre is located at Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8UB, just off junction 16 of the M4.

Frequently asked questions

When should I prepare my home for winter?

Early autumn is the ideal time to carry out winter maintenance. It gives you time to arrange any necessary repairs before temperatures fall and tradespeople become busier.

How can I make my home warmer for winter?

Begin by identifying draughts and possible areas of heat loss. Check your heating performance and seek expert advice before investing in larger changes such as insulation, replacement windows, or renewable heating.

Where can I get home renovation advice in Wiltshire?

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon provides independent homebuilding guidance, interactive educational exhibits, workshops, events and access to more than 200 specialist exhibitors.

Can I visit the NSBRC if I am not building a new home?

Yes. The centre supports homeowners planning renovations, retrofits, extensions and general home improvements, as well as people undertaking complete self-build projects.