Autumn in Ireland is short, and once the leaves start coming down the weather turns quickly. Getting a few jobs done now, while it's still mild enough to be up a ladder or out in the garden, saves a lot of hassle once the storms and frost arrive. Here's a practical winter checklist Ireland households can work through before the cold sets in, and who to book for each job.
Clear the gutters and downpipes
Once most of the leaves are down, gutters and downpipes fill up fast. Blocked gutters send water down the wall instead of away from the house, which can lead to damp over winter. Gutter cleaning is worth doing every autumn, and it's a job best left to someone with the right ladder and a head for heights.
This is a job for a handyman. Post it under Handymen on Service Connect, describe the house (bungalow, semi-d, how many storeys) and let a few providers send you a price.
Check the roof from the ground
Walk around the house and look up at the roof and slates from the ground, with binoculars if you have them. You're looking for anything obviously slipped, cracked or missing. Don't climb up to check it yourself. If something looks off, post the job and let a tradesperson take a proper look, and ask about insurance for working at height before you book.
Lag exposed pipes and know where your stopcock is
Pipes in an attic, garage or outside wall are the ones most likely to freeze and burst in a cold snap. Lagging them, a foam sleeve fitted around the pipe, is a cheap, quick job. It's also worth knowing exactly where your stopcock is and checking that it still turns freely, so you're not hunting for it with water coming through the ceiling. A plumber can sort both in one visit.
Search Plumbers on Service Connect, or post a job describing what needs lagging.
Bleed the radiators and book the boiler service
If a radiator is cold at the top but warm at the bottom, it needs bleeding. It only takes a few minutes, but if you'd rather have someone else do it while they're in looking at the heating anyway, ask a plumber to do both.
The boiler itself matters more. If it runs on gas, it should only ever be serviced by an installer registered with RGII. Get this booked in during autumn rather than waiting for the first really cold night, when everyone else has had the same idea. Search Plumbers on Service Connect and check a provider's profile for their qualifications before you book.
Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Replace batteries, test every alarm, and make sure there's a carbon monoxide alarm near the boiler or any solid fuel appliance. Hardwired alarms are an electrician's job, so look for someone registered with Safe Electric; battery-powered ones can usually be swapped or fitted by a handyman. Both Electricians and Handymen are categories on Service Connect, so post the job under whichever fits.
Draught-proof doors and windows
Gaps under doors and around window frames let the heat straight back out. Draught excluders, weatherstripping and a bit of sealant around obvious gaps are all straightforward jobs. A handyman can usually work through a whole house's worth of doors and windows in one visit, which tends to be easier than fitting it in gradually yourself.
Get the garden ready for winter
A few outdoor jobs are worth doing around the same time as the gutters:
- Clear garden drains and gullies of leaves so they can still take heavy rain.
- Cut back any branches overhanging the house, the gutters, or a shared path or driveway, before winter winds bring them down anyway.
- Give the garden a general tidy: cut back anything that's died off, lift what will rot on the lawn, and clear away debris.
- Store garden furniture, cushions and anything else that won't survive a wet winter outside.
All of this sits under Home & Garden on Service Connect. If you've a lot of furniture to move into a shed or garage, a Moving & Delivery provider can help with that part too.
How to post any of this on Service Connect
Posting a job is free. Choose "Get quotes" or set a budget, pick a category, and say whether you're flexible on timing, need it done this week, or want to pick a date. Providers send custom offers in chat, and you can accept, counter or decline, seeing the full total, their price plus the buyer protection fee, before you confirm anything.
Nothing is charged until a provider accepts the job, and Stripe holds the payment until the work is done, so there's no cash changing hands on the day with someone you've just met.
None of this needs to happen in one weekend. Spread it across a few weekends in October and, by the time the clocks go back, the house is ready for whatever winter brings. It's all part of ordinary home maintenance, just easier to keep on top of when you can post a job in a couple of minutes. Get the Service Connect app to get started, read more about how payments are protected under buyer protection, or browse categories to see who's available near you.