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Weekend Home Maintenance Tips

With Spring well and truly here, weekends are a great opportunity to get on top of all the little jobs around the home. Finally, we can all clean away the winter blues and get our homes ready for summer. Here are a few ideas from our very own home and garden maintenance Angels at DIAL-AN-ANGEL.

Test air conditioning

Try out your air conditioning system today. If you wait until the first hot day to check your AC and it doesn't work, you will have a long, hot wait before the repair people can get to it. They'll be overworked and cranky by the time they get to your home; you'll be cranky because you're so hot.

Inspect sanitary fittings and water pipes

Galvanised iron water pipes are common in many older homes and have a limited lifespan. If your water pressure drops significantly, it could be a warning sign that your pipes need replacing. All pipes over 25 years old should be checked regularly for signs of deterioration. A pressure test can be undertaken by your plumber to confirm leaking pipes.

Leaking shower recesses cause rot and other structural damage so take a close look for any signs of cracking in wall or floor tiles. Tile grout that is in poor condition will also allow water to pass through the recess, and fix cracked shower screens and leaks around the screen will also need fixing.

Check for musty smells or dampness anywhere in your house. Take a look under the floor for leaks or ponding as your insurance policy may not cover damage that occurs from a fault being left unattended.

Clean patios and steps

Take simple steps to make sure paved areas are maintained to prevent slips or falls. Trim overhanging trees and shrubs, and regularly sweep rubbish from pathways. Drain surface water to prevent pooling and slippery mould growing.

Inspect roofing

Before doing this job make sure you are properly hydrated, wearing appropriate sun and bug protection, and have someone with you if you are climbing up high.

Inspect the roof for damaged, loose or blistered shingles. Have damaged shingles replaced if they're on less than 20% of the roof. Reroof if damaged shingles cover more than 20% of the roof. Roof damage can be checked quickly by looking through the internal roof space. Light will filter through any defects, holes or openings.

Examine flashing around chimneys, vents, and roof edges.

Trim branches and shrubs that are touching your home which can provide a pathway for bugs or excess moisture to enter your home.

Remove dead branches that may fall on your home.

Moss growing on tiles is not usually a problem, unless the growth is very heavy and it washes into the gutters and causes a blockage.

Corrugated iron roof sheets should be fixed with screws rather than nails: nails are more likely to pull out again.

If you need help or advice, check with a tradesperson or roofing specialist. Don't attempt to climb up on your roof unless you have someone to assist you with a ladder, or to call for help in an emergency. Walking on tiles and metal can easily cause damage and climbing on wet roofs is very dangerous.

Check gutters and downpipes

Check gutters and downpipes regularly for blockages, rust and other signs of deterioration. Remove debris from gutters and downpipes and patch any holes. Blocked drains caused by leaves or even tennis balls can cause overflows and flooding back into the roof cavity. Gutters and downpipes that are left blocked will fill up with water and start to rust.

Try to check your gutters and downpipes every three months or more frequently if you have overhanging trees or shrubs. Prune trees and shrubs away from the roof and remove any loose bedding or pointing to reduce the time you need to spend clearing away debris.

Make sure the downpipes direct water at least 5 feet away from your foundation walls.

Check smoke detectors

Smoke detectors can be wired into your home's electrical cabling or you can install a battery operated model. Remember to check the life span of the battery and ensure you have a reminder in place to test and replace batteries. If you do not have smoke detectors your local fire brigade will be happy to advise on the best type of smoke detector to use, and the best locations for detectors throughout your house.

Don't forget the garden

Clean Bird Feeders and Baths by scrubbing with weak bleach solution. Rinse and dry the feeders thoroughly before refilling them. Scrub birdbaths with bleach solution, then rinse them thoroughly and refill, changing water weekly. Clean birdbaths and feeders regularly throughout the season.

It is vitally important that you repot at the start of spring. Plants that are getting too big for their containers need to be upsized, as 90% of their growth occurs during the spring months! You must re-plant any plants that have been in a container for two or more years, even if they have not out-grown the container, as the potting mix is by now degenerate. Remember to water well in the re-potting stage, and although good-quality potting mixes contain fertilizer, a slow-release fertilizer (eg. Osmocote) can be good at this stage also.

Get your lawn mower checked and its blades sharpened if you didn't get the job done in late winter. Sharp blades cut better and leave your lawn grass healthier.

Home Maintenance Checklist

Regular home maintenance will save you money in the long run so why not start a home maintenance checklist with jobs on it that need to be done monthly, annually, and seasonally. You can even keep track of ongoing jobs. That way you can manage your time and your budget!

While you are busy with all these projects you can console yourself with the knowledge that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! If this seems like to big of a project to handle, just contact DIAL-AN-ANGEL and ask about our concierge and gardening/handyman services and we'll take care of everything!