When it comes to home maintenance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed right off the bat. There are many aspects to consider – from cleaning your gutters to keeping your boiler or heating system in good nick. This guide breaks down each element of maintaining your home into seasons so that you have a handy reference point to keep on track throughout the year.
Contents
- Monthly maintenance checklist
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Reassessing monthly outgoings
- Planning for next year
Seasonal home maintenance – why bother?
Many people don’t think about the general upkeep of their home until it’s too late. This is how slight issues become huge problems that are expensive and time consuming to fix. Having different checks and tasks for each season will help you keep on top of this and save you time and money in the long run.
Monthly maintenance checklist
Although you can handle many tasks season by season, it’s worth taking some time each month to run through necessary checks and chores that will ensure the smooth day-to-day running of your home.
An in-depth cleaning schedule will make your life a lot easier! Keeping on top of this will make sure different fixtures in your home stay looking great for longer and prevent large appliances from becoming damaged by grime build up.
Kitchen
Oven – take some time to give it a good scrub and use oven cleaner on any trays that have built up grease
Fridge/Freezer – give your fridge and freezer a good clean out, throw away any food that is past its expiry date
Washing machine – run your washing machines self-clean programme, wipe underneath the rubber door seals and scrub the detergent tray. If your machine has a panel to remove to access the drain filter, empty it out
Hood extractor – if the extractor hood above your stove has a filter, try to change it every month
Damp – check for damp, wipe down walls and the tops of cupboards
Bathroom
Plug holes – remove any build-up of hair from the shower and bath plug holes. If you’ve noticed water build-up, use a drain snake or cleaner to remove any potential blockage
Medicine cabinet – check everything is in date and reorganise if needed
Cosmetics – throw away all old bottles of shampoo, conditioner etc. Change toothbrushes and loofas
Extractor fan – take time to give your extractor fan some attention – replace any filters and make sure nothing is caught in there
Mould – check for signs of mould, especially on ceilings and around your windows
Whole house
- Dusting – make sure to thoroughly dust on top of cupboards and door frames, and give your skirting boards a once over
- Windows – clean windows from the inside and out
- Doors – clean your doors from the inside and out. Check that the hinges are working correctly and not squeaking
- Floors – Move furniture and hoover or sweep underneath
Monthly checks
- Boiler –Check your boiler is topped up
- Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors – Test all alarms in your house and replace the batteries if needed
- Damp – Check walls and crevices for signs of damp (especially in the bathroom, kitchen and around windowsills)
Seasonal Checklist
Spring
‘Spring cleaning’ is a concept we’re all familiar with! It is a busy month for many reasons, and as the winter melts away, there are many aspects of your home that could need some love and attention.
- Drains – Inspect your outside drains and unblock if needed
- Pipes – Look at the pipes outside your house for any damage caused by frost and ice
- Gutters – Get on a ladder and check your gutters for leaves
- Roof – Your roof is most likely to suffer damage over winter, so checking it in the spring is necessary. Look for moss growth, loose tiles and water damage [i]
- Insulation – Get up in your attic and check that your insulation is in a good state; it should be 270mm deep[ii]. Look out for signs of water damage
- Painting – Check your paintwork is in good shape inside and outside your house
Summer
When the summer months arrive, we tend to spend more time outside. This is an excellent season to check up on your garden and other outside areas.
- Patios & paved areas – jet wash any paved areas and look for loose stones that could become trip hazards
- Decking – Look for signs of rot on wooden decking as this could make it unstable & unsafe[iii], replace any planks that are worse for wear and paint, stain or oil it whilst the weather is nice.
- Repointing – If your exterior walls need repointing, now is the time to do it
- Clean upholstery & fabrics – Clean upholstery & fabrics – Whilst the sun is shining, and it is easier to dry materials, wash your curtains, duvets, pillow and sofa covers
- Reseal & grout – Examine the sealings around your sinks, baths and showers and make sure your tile grouting is in good shape
- Boiler & heating system – Many people make the mistake of waiting until colder weather hits to have their heating systems serviced – but you should do it earlier in the year[iv]. Making sure your boiler, wet underfloor heating or radiator system is running smoothly will help to avoid expensive emergency plumbers as the temperature drops.
Autumn
Now is the time to start preparing for colder weather, longer nights, and the damage that adverse weather conditions can do to your home.
- Trees & shrubbery – Prepare for winter storms by having a professional check for loose branches or diseased trees on your property and removing them[v]
- Leaves – this is an ongoing task but should be done near the end of the season at the very least – sweep up autumn leaves and remove from drains and gutters
- Chimney – If you have a chimney that is in use, have it swept before winter when it will be used more frequently[vi]
- Paths & driveways – Check that your driveway and any paths are safe, secure and there aren’t any loose stones or other debris. This will become a trip hazard in the winter if snow obscures it
- Bleed radiators – To make sure your radiator system is running efficiently, take time to bleed it during the autumn before the cold sets in
Winter
As winter draws in, your maintenance will involve a lot of checking for damage after bouts of bad weather. Winter is the season for reactive chores rather than proactive tasks.
- Leaks – check pipes outside your home for leaks after bad rain, snow and ice
- Boiler – keep an eye on the pipes leading out of your boiler, make sure these do not become blocked with ice
- Garden furniture/equipment – tie down larger pieces of furniture, and protect with an outdoor cover. Make sure any gardening equipment is safely locked inside your shed or garage
- Locks on gates – Locks on gates – check that the locks on exterior gates are working correctly and doors can’t be forced easily. People may take advantage of the darker, longer nights to enter your property and steal items from your garden
- Prevent damp – it’s tempting to keep the windows solidly closed whilst it’s cold, but you need to air your house through on occasion and keep windows open or vents on whilst showering and cooking
Reassess bills
Alongside the maintenance of your home, you should take time every year to reassess your bills and see if you can make savings. Check the following: –
- Electricity and gas – could you be paying less with a different provider?
- Water – are you paying too much for water?
- Internet and TV – are other providers offering better packages?
- Insurance – check around for more competitive insurance rates
Whether you find cheaper providers for the above, make cutbacks on how much energy you use, or install more efficient appliances in your home – there is usually always a way to make a saving.
Take notes & plan for next year
When the year is done and dusted, it’s time to start again.
Whilst completing this checklist, you should take notes to make next years process even easier. Note down how long specific jobs took you, where you have stored certain equipment for different tasks, and any useful phone numbers for tradespeople you used for specialist tasks like chimney sweeping and tree felling.
References
Findley Roofing Yorkshire, n.d. 13 early signs you may need a roof replacement. [Online] Available at: https://www.findleyroofingyorkshire.co.uk/13-early-signs-may-need-roof-replacement [Accessed January 2021].
HETAS, 2017. When should I get my chimney swept?. [Online] Available at: https://www.hetas.co.uk/when-chimney-swept/ [Accessed January 2021].
HOA, n.d. Home Maintenance Checklist. [Online] Available at: https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-managing-2/home-maintenance-checklist/ [Accessed January 2021].
Houzz, 2015. Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist. [Online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2015/09/26/your-fall-home-maintenance-checklist/ [Accessed January 2021].
Ronseal, n.d. How to look after decking. [Online] Available at: https://www.ronseal.com/how-to-guides/how-to-look-after-decking/ [Accessed January 2021].
West London Gas, n.d. What Time Of Year Should I Book My Boiler Service?. [Online] Available at: https://www.westlondongas.com/what-time-of-year-should-i-book-my-boiler-service/ [Accessed January 2021].
Sources
[i] https://www.findleyroofingyorkshire.co.uk/13-early-signs-may-need-roof-replacement
[ii] https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-managing-2/home-maintenance-checklist/
[iii] https://www.ronseal.com/how-to-guides/how-to-look-after-decking/
[iv] https://www.westlondongas.com/what-time-of-year-should-i-book-my-boiler-service/
[v] https://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2015/09/26/your-fall-home-maintenance-checklist/
[vi] https://www.hetas.co.uk/when-chimney-swept/