As we all know that time has been changed and that means darker nights and colder weather are heading our way.
With British Summer Time officially at an end and more households switching on their central heating, this is the perfect time to give your boiler the once over to make sure it is fit for winter.
You should also give your home insurance policy a seasonal check to see if it covers you against a broken down boiler or central heating system.
Here's how to stay warm on the home front this winter.
LIFE'S A GAS
A broken down boiler is one of the most expensive items in your home to replace or repair, costing on average £3,442 to fix, according to GoCompare.com Home Insurance.
Boilers also have a habit of breaking down at the worst possible time, for instance during a cold snap or when you have the relatives to dinner at Christmas.
Geoff Barker, business development director at energy firm Flow Products, warns that a boiler breakdown will not just leave you short of hot water and heating: "Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal."
Too many people do not give their boiler a thought until it suddenly packs up.
Barker adds: "With a boiler installation costing thousands of pounds you need to maintain it in the same way as any other household appliance."
ON THE BOIL
Barker says there is plenty you can do to keep your existing boiler healthy: "Bleed the radiators regularly, avoid clutter to allow for ventilation, get a system flush to get rid of any debris and limescale build-up, and regularly check the pressure to ensure it is operating at maximum capacity."
Replacing your old boiler is expensive, but could save you money in the long run.
Barker says: "Modern appliances such as our Flow Eco RF boiler can cut gas bills by up to 15 per cent.
"New 'smart' boilers connect to the internet, which means that minor problems can be fixed remotely, saving on call-out charges. Remember, by law all gas appliances must now be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer."
HOT TOPIC
Ben Wilson, energy product manager from GoCompare.com, says check your home insurance to see if it includes cover for boiler or central heating failure, or other winter nasties such as burst pipes and blocked drains: "
A good policy should offer a 24-hour helpline for emergency repairs and send round a local tradesman for an agreed fee."
GoCompare's figures show that just 15 per cent of household insurance policies include home emergency cover as standard.
Many offer it as an optional extra, but one in four does not offer it at all. So check what your policy offers and consider buying it as an add-on.
Home emergency cover will generally meet call-out fees and labour charges, plus parts and materials.
However, payouts are typically capped at between £500 and £1,000, so you may still have to dig into your own pocket for more expensive repairs.
Executive director of Age UK Home Insurance Doug Strachan says if you have not had your boiler serviced this year, do so now before winter sets in: "It is important to get a regular service by a registered professional and ask them to check your radiators are in good working order too."
Most insurers will refuse to pay for boiler breakdown unless it has been serviced by a qualified person within the last 12 months.
EMERGENCY PLANNING
Another option is to buy stand-alone home emergency cover through specialists such as British Gas, CoverCloud and HomeServe.
Plans cost between £5 and £15 a month and may cover heating, plumbing and drainage problems as well as boiler breakdown.
Most promise that a qualified tradesman will visit your home within 24 hours in an emergency, although it may take longer during widespread floods and storms.
Again, there may be a maximum claim amount and excess to pay.
Watch out for exclusions and avoid paying twice over for the same cover, once from your insurer and once from a stand-alone plan.
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