How Care Homes Can Prepare Their Properties for Winter

Cold weather can put extra pressure on a care home’s heating, plumbing, drainage and power systems. A fault that might be inconvenient elsewhere can affect residents’ comfort, safety and daily routines.

A few checks before winter can help you spot problems early. It is also worth deciding who will coordinate repairs if something fails. This guide sets out what to check now and what to have ready for a reactive response.

1. Check heating and hot water before cold weather arrives

Arrange checks of your heating system before it is working at full demand. Include boilers, controls, pumps, radiators and thermostats. Note rooms that are slow to warm, radiators that stay cold or controls that behave inconsistently. Make sure any faults are logged and followed up.

Think about how you will keep residents comfortable if the heating fails. Know which areas need attention first, who should be notified and what temporary arrangements are appropriate for your home. Any temporary heaters should be suitable for the setting and used with the necessary fire and electrical precautions.

Hot water needs its own checks. A reliable supply supports washing and other daily care, while water temperatures and system maintenance also form part of Legionella risk management. Keep to your site’s risk assessment and record-keeping arrangements. The HSE guidance on hot and cold water systems explains key control measures.

2. Reduce the risk of frozen pipes and water ingress

Inspect exposed pipes, pipe insulation and vulnerable areas such as plant rooms, loft spaces and external taps. Check that you know where the stopcock and other isolation points are, and that the people on duty can access them.

Look outside, too. Clear leaves and debris from gutters, downpipes and gullies, and check for signs of leaks or damage. A small roof or gutter problem can let water into the building, where it may damage ceilings, finishes or electrical equipment.

If a pipe freezes or bursts, follow your site’s emergency procedure. Isolate the water if it is safe to do so, protect residents from wet floors and keep people clear of any water near electrical equipment. Contact a competent plumber. Avoid using open flames or improvised heat to thaw pipes.

The HSE’s advice on frozen pipes in workplaces is a useful reminder that severe cold can disrupt access to water and basic facilities. Plan what you will do if part of your home is affected.

3. Keep drainage working and protect essential facilities

Check for slow-draining sinks, toilets that do not flush properly, unpleasant smells or recurring blockages. These can be early signs of a problem that becomes harder to manage during bad weather or busy periods.

A blocked toilet or drain can affect residents’ access to essential facilities. If the issue compromises safe use of toilets, handwashing or other care routines, follow your infection-control and business-continuity procedures. Decide in advance who assesses the impact and what alternative arrangements may be needed.

Do not wait for a minor recurring blockage to become an urgent call-out. Record it, arrange an assessment and make sure the cause is addressed where possible.

4. Check doors, locks and access

Cold, wind and heavy rain can expose problems with external doors, closers, locks and glazing. Check that entrances close and latch properly, that locks work smoothly, and that staff can still manage access safely.

Pay particular attention to doors used for deliveries, staff access and emergency exits. Keep routes clear, and make sure any faults affecting security or safe access are reported promptly. If a door or window is damaged in a storm, follow your make-safe procedure and arrange a repair.

A care home maintenance specialist should be able to help coordinate the right response for issues involving locks, doors, glazing or other trades, rather than leaving your team to find each contractor separately.

5. Review power and emergency lighting arrangements

Before winter, check that your arrangements for power loss are clear. Know how staff should report a fault and which systems may be affected, including lighting, heating controls, lifts, communications and equipment that needs a reliable power supply.

Keep emergency lighting and other safety systems within your inspection and testing programme. Record defects and arrange competent repairs. Make sure staff know how to follow your procedures if lighting or power is interrupted.

If your home has backup power, check that the arrangements are maintained and that relevant staff know what to do. Consider how a prolonged outage would affect residents and which alternative arrangements may be required.

6. Prepare a response for the faults you cannot prevent

Some problems only become apparent when something breaks. A heating fault, burst pipe, blocked drain, power issue or damaged lock may still need a prompt response despite good preparation.

Before winter, make sure staff know how to report a fault and what information to provide. For example:

• What has happened, and when did it start?

• Which room or area is affected?

• Is anyone at immediate risk?

• Are there any access restrictions?

• What steps have already been taken?

Also decide who will coordinate the repair and update the rest of the team. In a care setting, this matters because managers and facilities staff already have residents, staff and daily operations to consider. Having one point of contact can reduce the time spent identifying trades, arranging access and chasing updates.

A good reactive maintenance partner will take ownership of the repair process: assess what trade is needed, coordinate the response, keep you informed and explain the next step if the issue needs further work. That does not remove the need for your own site procedures. It gives your team a clearer route to follow when something goes wrong.

Property Caretakers provides reactive property maintenance for organisations across Norfolk and surrounding areas. If you need to report a property issue, contact the team.

What should you check now, and what should stay reactive?

Check now: heating performance, visible pipe insulation, gutters and drainage, door and lock operation, emergency lighting arrangements, and how staff report faults. Review relevant service records and make sure open defects have an owner and a next step.

Keep ready for reactive response: sudden breakdowns, leaks, blockages, power faults, storm damage and security problems. Keep reporting and escalation details accessible to the staff who may need them, including out of hours.

For further cold-weather planning, see the government guidance for adult social care managers. The CQC’s hypothermia learning also highlights the importance of practical arrangements to help keep residents warm.

Pre-winter checklist for care managers

• Check heating, radiators, thermostats and hot-water arrangements.

• Review water-system risk controls and records.

• Inspect exposed pipes and insulation, and locate isolation valves.

• Clear and check gutters, gullies and drainage points.

• Test doors, locks, access arrangements and relevant emergency lighting.

• Review the plan for power loss, heating failure and water disruption.

• Make sure staff know how to report faults and who coordinates the response.

• Record outstanding defects, who is responsible and what happens next.

Winter readiness is not about preventing every fault. It is about finding what you can early and making the next step clear when a problem does occur. With checks completed and a reliable response route in place, your team can spend less time coordinating repairs and more time focused on residents.