With temperatures forecast to drop this week, people are being urged to make sure their home’s heating is up to the job of keeping them warm this winter.

Just ahead of the onset of wintry weather, British Gas has found many people are not prepared for a cold snap.

A survey found 43 per cent of people in London don’t check their central heating is working before it’s time to turn it on, and just two fifths get their boiler serviced ahead of winter.

It also found 57 per cent of people in London have had to endure a cold shower in the past five years because of a boiler breakdown at home.

Blocking draughts to stop heat escaping and bleeding radiators are some of the best tips to keep your home warm.

There is also this advice from gas engineers to prevent burst pipes, damaged water tanks or overflowing gutters.

Love your boiler: Check to make sure that your boiler is working properly before winter sets in. The older your boiler, the more inefficient it will be. If you have a pressure gauge, make sure the boiler is at the right pressure and top up as necessary.

Wrap up your water tank and insulate hot water: The materials can be purchased from most DIY stores and help to conserve heat and save you money.

Insulate your pipes: Burst pipes are a huge issue during winter months. To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from most DIY shops.

Be energy smart: Why not speak to your energy supplier about a smart meter? If you are a household customer, you can see how much energy you’re using, in pounds and pence, with a smart meter monitor. In turn this helps you to better understand your energy consumption and identify where you can make savings. For businesses you can access our online tool, Business Energy Insight, which provides personalised information, alerts and energy efficiency tips.

Maintain your drains: If you're trying to keep your drains outside well maintained, it's a good idea to make sure they are clear of debris at the point at which they enter the ground. This involves checking your gullies for autumnal leaves and twigs in order to ensure that they don't restrict water flow at any point.