A majority (68 per cent) of people fail to adequately prepare their homes for winter, new research shows.The study by British Gas revealed that 41 per cent do nothing at all to prepare their property while a further 27 per cent only take action once something has gone wrong.In addition, it was found that 24 per cent of Brits have suffered from the inconvenience of boiler breakdowns in previous winters.Commenting on the research, Blane Judd, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, suggested that homeowners who call out fitters to deal with boiler problems should also check their plumbing competence. This could cover maintenance and repair tasks in and around the kitchen sink.For an extra safeguard, ask if they will check your carbon monoxide alarm or supply you with one if you dont have one installed, said Mr Judd.