Autumn Home Maintenance: prepare your property for the cool shift

Autumn is here in Australia, bringing us many autumnal delights and cooler weather. 

For those who aren’t big fans of the sweltering Aussie summer, this is good news! Autumn is a more introspective time, perfect for winding down, spending more time indoors, and engaging in some fun leisure activities around the house. 

But it is also time to do some much-needed property maintenance. There are several things you should do to prepare your home for the cool shift, so if you’re gearing up to prepare your property for winter, then you’re in the right place!

Get an electrical inspection and maintenance done.

While the weather is cooler and tamer, now is a great time to contact a qualified, licensed, and fully insured electrician in Melbourne to carry out a routine electrical safety inspection. An electrical safety check is more than just a switchboard test or an appliance service. A safety check includes a comprehensive service and testing of all electrical installations and fittings within the property. This ensures occupants are safe from the danger associated with electrical faults and landlords and property managers are fulfilling their obligations.

This may include tasks such as inspecting and assessing circuitry and wiring systems, as well as checking your property for out-of-date wiring that may need an upgrade. It also involves detailed testing of power points, lighting fixtures/fittings, and your smoke alarms. An electrical inspection could also involve inspecting your security systems and cameras, inspecting the meter box and checking for hazards like exposed wiring. 

If you’ve recently bought a property, an electrical safety inspection might also check for do-it-yourself wiring jobs, which can be highly hazardous. This is especially helpful in the lead-up to winter when your home may rely more on using electricity for heating. A qualified electrician can rectify any dodgy DIY jobs and safeguard your property from fire and electrocution hazards. 

Clean out your gutters

Another important part of preparing your property for winter and the heavy rain and winds that come with the season is cleaning out your gutters. Over the summer and early autumn months, decaying leaf matter and other random dirt and debris will fill up your gutters, especially if you live near lots of trees. 

If this build-up is left to grow, it can cause your roof gutters to become waterlogged during heavy rain. And if the water can’t flow along your gutters and through your downpipes, it will instead overflow and cause a severe leak in your roof. Mid-to-late autumn is the best time of year for gutter cleaning since the weather won’t be as extreme, and most of the foliage will have already started falling.

It’s important to note, however, that cleaning gutters can be dangerous, especially if you’re an older person. So if you’re feeling a little dizzy or faint about the prospect of getting up a ladder to clean your gutters out, then consider engaging the support of a professional who can perform the task safely and effectively. Outsourcing this task may save you thousands of dollars in the long run while helping keep your roof and home in pristine condition.

Invest in draught blockers and seal your home

Cold winter air often gets into your home under doors and through cracks, causing severe heat loss. Thankfully, those snake-like draught stoppers you can buy at craft or hardware stores are a surprisingly cheap and effective way to block pesky draughts from entering your home. They also trap the hot air from your heating, keeping it inside. If you’re particularly crafty, you can even make these yourself using basic materials.

Alongside installing these draught blockers under doorways, you should also use the pre-winter period to seal any gaps you find around your property’s doors and windows. Applying an updated coat of window sealant is a great way to start here, alongside swapping out your house’s older window coverings for more winter-appropriate, insulative fabrics and designs.

Not only will adding draught blockers and reapplying sealant to windows help trap the heat inside this coming winter, but it’ll also ensure that your home’s heating use is actually efficient, reducing the sting of your heating bills over the season and ensuring that you can soften the blow of the current cost-of-living crisis for your family. 

While we’re on the topic of heating…

Get your heating system serviced

The next crucial step in preparing your home for the cooler months and the eventual arrival of winter is to arrange a comprehensive servicing of your entire heating system by a qualified, certified heating technician. It is essential to understand that, much like an automobile or any complex piece of machinery, your heating appliances require regular maintenance and servicing to ensure they continue to operate at their highest efficiency and optimal performance.

A technician can inspect or service your gas heater or split-system air conditioner to ensure they are running as intended without issues. This routine servicing is not merely a formality but a vital preventative measure. A professional technician will perform a thorough inspection, cleaning, and tune-up, which involves checking for common issues such as carbon monoxide leaks, worn-out parts, clogged filters, and pilot light and ignition system problems.

Remember that your gas or ducted heaters should be serviced every 2 years, while split systems require annual service. If you’re renting, your landlord is responsible for this, so contact them or your property manager to arrange the inspection and service of your heating system.

An Autumn Preparation Summary

Preparing your home for the cooler months to keep warm doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By taking care of a few key maintenance tasks in the autumn months, from booking an electrical safety inspection and servicing your heating system to cleaning your gutters and sealing draughts, you can protect your property and keep your household comfortable throughout winter. 

Small preventative measures now can help avoid costly repairs later, while also improving energy efficiency and overall home safety. If you’re unsure where to start, working with qualified professionals can make the process much easier. 

An experienced electrician can ensure your home’s wiring, switchboard and electrical systems are safe and ready for increased winter use, giving you peace of mind as the temperatures drop. With the right preparation, you can settle in, stay warm, and enjoy everything the cooler season has to offer.

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