Autumn is the perfect time to get some home maintenance underway before winter arrives

Regular maintenance not only keeps your house clean but will save you money in the long run. It’s a great time in Autumn to focus on your outdoor maintenance, and you can extend the life of your paintwork, joinery, roofing iron and gutters by keeping them clean and in working order.

Cleaning driveways/decks/patio surfaces

Before more consistent rains start in winter it’s a great time to make sure any mould and mildew is cleaned off these surfaces outside to prevent them becoming slippery. A water blaster can be a huge help, but also, nothing beats a good scrub with soapy water with a tough brush, or broom.

Wash the House

While you have all the gear out washing your driveway, get into washing your house windows and cladding, especially on the southern side of your house. Wash the house and water the gardens at the same time!

Gutters

Autumn is a great time to clean leaves, birds’ nests and gunk build up in your gutters. On a fine day, it’s a great idea to climb a well-positioned ladder to tend to your gutters before the colder months roll around. You can use garden gloves, or a small trowel and bucket to help clear your gutters and then give your gutters a rinse with the hose afterwards.

Roof

While you’re up by your roof, it’s good practice to examine your roof for wear and tear. If you have any damage, its worth booking a professional to assess and plan for the repair work to be done when appropriate. But for now, it might be a great time to determine if a mildew, moss, lichen and mould treatment is in order. Also, check the flashings around skylights, valleys, pipes and chimneys, as if you have any gaps; heavy rain will find its way in. If you’re confident in your abilities you can patch any areas yourself with some silicon when you have access to hardware stores again! Safety first though, so if your not familiar with working at heights best leave it to a professional.

Air-Con/Heating

No matter what type of heating system you use, autumn is a good time to have it maintained and cleaned ready for use in winter. Most modern heat pumps have filters you can take out and clean yourself. Research your model of heat pump online to follow the manufacturers recommendations. An efficient heating system and a well-insulated home can help reduce your heating bills. Chimneys should be cleaned to prevent fire hazards, keeping in mind this is a stipulation for your insurance.

Smoke Alarms

Finally, if you can only do one thing on this list, choose this one! At least once a year you should be checking to make sure all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices are working.