With the nights drawing in and the weather turning nasty, it's important to get your home ready for winter, before Jack Frost starts to bite. As there's nothing worse than being left out in the cold when the central heating packs in, getting your home sorted is a red hot idea.

British Gas Engineer of the Year, Alex Whiteside said: "A central heating system could be your third biggest investment after your house and car, so it's worth looking after it properly. If it breaks down over the winter months the effects can be disastrous, both financially and in terms of comfort and warmth."

With a little time and thought, DIYers can make a huge differnce. The first thing to do is to check radiators are warming up properly - if they are hot at the bottom and cold at the top, there's air trapped in the system and they will need to be 'bled', which you can do yourself. Radiators that are hot at the top and cold at the bottom could also have a build up of sludge/sediment at the bottom, which is affecting the free flow of water. If this is the case, a 'power flush' of the system may be recommended by a qaulified CORGI engineer.

If your boiler is located in an outhouse or garage, it's more susceptible to freezing temperatures at night, when it's switched off. It can be a good idea to get a Frost Thermostat Valve fitted, which automatically switches it on if the temperature drops dramatically at night.

It is also important to make sure all exposed pipe work and storage systems are properly lagged, especially those in the loft or other areas exposed to freezing temperatures. This is a relatively easy job that doesn't cost the earth and is easy to do yourself.

Nearly half of all the heat lost in an average home is through the loft space and walls, but you can save more than a third on your heating costs by installing 270mm (10 inches) of loft insulation.

Cavity wall insulation is one of the most cost effective energy efficiency measures you can take, reducing heat loss through the wall by around 60 per cent and saving a whopping £100 to £120 each year on your heating bill.

Howeverm this is a job for the professionals, not DIYers. If you're going away for a few days over the winter months, it's always best to set your central heating to come on twice a day at low temperatures, to help avoid the problem of freezing and burst pipes if there's a sudden cold snap. To save money and energy, set your heating to turn off 30 minutes before you go to bed, as there will still be plenty of residual heat in the home to keep you warm. You could also turn your central heating down just 1 degree - you won't notice any difference but you could cut your bills by up to 10 per cent.

Although it can be quite a big investment, double-glazing cuts heat loss and also reduces noise and condensation problems with savings of up to £40 a year on annual bills. Alternatively, you could put up secondary glazing or an insulating plastic film.

Close your curtains as soon as it starts getting dark to stop heat escaping through the windows. Using draught excluders on doors, windows and letter-boxes can make a huge difference too.

As of April 1, 2005, building regulations state all new gas boilers installed in England and Wales must be high-efficiency condensing boilers, as these produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions.

Have a yearly safety and performance inspection carried out by your CORGI registered gas engineer, to check your central heating system is working safely and efficiently so you can enjoy a warm and cosy winter.