The ten-minute autumn plumbing checklist

Run the heating for twenty minutes even in mild weather. Problems found in October get fixed on a normal appointment; the same fault in January becomes an emergency callout.

Check the boiler pressure gauge and top up to the manufacturer's cold setting if needed. A slow drop over months usually indicates a small leak worth tracing.

Locate and turn your stopcock. Seized stopcocks are the reason so many burst pipes cause serious damage — the homeowner simply cannot switch the water off.

Lag any exposed pipework in the loft, garage and outbuildings, and isolate and drain outdoor taps before the first hard frost.

Clear gutters and external gullies. A large share of the 'leaks' we are called to in winter are overflowing drainage, not plumbing.

Finally, book the annual service before the rush. From November onwards, every reputable firm in the region has a waiting list.