It’s officially Autumn. Soon enough the leaves will start changing colour, the evenings will get darker earlier and you will need to dig out your jumpers from the back of your wardrobe. As your house protects you from the cold and wet weather, you need to make sure it is in good enough condition to do so. Our Autumn checklist for home maintenance details what to look for and what checks to perform on your home.
Plumbing and Heating
Autumn will be your last chance before temperatures plummet and the weather takes a turn for the worse. It’s a good idea to test that your plumbing and heating will be up to the challenge before it’s too late. Get a professional or do it yourself.
The first item on our Autumn checklist for home maintenance should be your boiler: Check all the correct lights are on and the pressure is not dropping. Also check your radiators, ensuring that they turn on, off and radiate heat effectively. Turning now to the plumbing, your pipes could freeze over in extremely cold temperatures. They should be insulated effectively, particularly in your roof or loft, and unblocked throughout the house. You should also check that you or someone in the house knows how to turn off the water shut-off valve in case of frozen pipes.
Outdoor Furniture
Now that the good weather is behind us there is no longer a great need for your outdoor furniture. First of all, remove any cushions and covers from your outdoor benches and chairs. Placing these in a protective bag before storing them will ensure that they are not damaged before next Summer. Seats and smaller items that are more portable can be stored in sheds or garages, or placed in storage. This will protect them from weather damage as we head into the wetter and colder seasons. It is possible to place larger items, such as swing seats, into storage units, however, it is also possible to cover them in protective sheets like tarpaulin to prevent damage from wind, cold and rain.
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House exterior & Garden
Small damages and signs of wear to the outside of a building can worsen considerably with poor weather conditions. Peeling paint, cracks in roofing or siding and damaged caulking around windows can all lead to expensive heating bills or be a sign of moisture in the house’s walls. In addition, while it might seem silly, it’s a good idea to trim large bushes or trees. With strong winds, branches can break and cause damage to your or your neighbour’s property. Removing any chance of this could save you a lot of worry and money in the future.
If you are looking to clean your garden decking before the colder months, check out our easy guide.
Fireplace
If you have a fireplace and chimney and haven’t cleaned either out over summer, Autumn is the perfect time to do so. You need to ensure that the passageway is clear before the coldest time of the year when you’ll be using it the most. This is a vital point on your Autumn checklist for home maintenance as forgetting to clear debris can cause dangerous chimney fires in your home. Clearing out the fireplace itself and restocking any wood or coal stores in your house will leave you in a great position for when the weather is cold enough to need a cosy fire.
Clear Gutters & Drains
As the trees shed their leaves, gutters and drains can become clogged with organic debris. Later Autumn and Winter will bring plenty of rainfall in the UK. If gutters are blocked, this can cause flooding as the water is not draining from your roof correctly. For this reason, you should check your gutters throughout Autumn to remove any leaves, twigs or sticks that can accumulate here. Drains could encounter the same issue, causing issues with pipes and the rest of the drainage system.
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