With the change of seasons, homeowners have to deal with a variety of maintenance issues that need to be solved before the weather makes them worse. Australian home warranties will cover you for most of these issues, but you need to regularly maintain your home’s systems in order to be eligible for these types of fixes. It would be smart to start with the basics.
1. Clean the gutters
There are several elements in your home that act as an efficient drainage system. Among them are your gutters. They make sure that excessive rain is diverted from your roof and walls into the ground to be carried away by various drains in your driveway and backyard. Unfortunately, autumn often leaves them filled with leaves and branches, which can be bad news for your home.
Cleaning them is crucial if you don’t want water pooling on your roof and damaging them. Luckily, it’s an easily manageable problem. A ladder and some rubber gloves are the only tools you really need for this job. A plastic scoop might come in handy for large bunches of sharp branches. It’s a dull maintenance job, but it’s something you have to deal with.
2. Inspect windows
During the summer, you probably don’t check your windows for any leaks or faults. After all, even the standard heavy UK rains won’t get through a double pane of glass, even when it isn’t exactly waterproof. The summer heat that leaks inside won’t make much of a difference either, even if you’re smack dab in the middle of the Australian outback. It’s why you have an AC unit. Colder weather is much less forgiving of leaks, however.
When winter rolls around, any and all leaks need to be plugged up and fixed. Otherwise, your heating will not be as efficient and you’ll end up freezing all winter. Not to mention your heating bill, which will drastically increase. Even a tiny leak will cause a drop in temperature over a long enough period. Finding the faults is crucial before autumn and winter arrive, so inspect those windows!
3. Prepare the roof
The roof is an important and very delicate part of your home’s defence against the elements. Taking care of it is crucial if you want to get through tough weather without your home being damaged. The shingles on an average roof tend to buckle and crack every once in a while, which means that they need semi-regular replacements. Otherwise, the roof is eventually going to spring a leak that might damage your attic.
Lots of Australian homes are long overdue for a roof restoration. This is especially true for historically significant buildings which require special care to be preserved properly. This is precisely why there has been such a large increase in demand for affordable heritage roofing in Sydney. People want to prepare their roofs for rainy and snowy seasons so that they can rest easy knowing that they have solid protection for their family home.
4. Clean the fireplace
For those chilly winter nights, you’re going to need to get a good fire going in the fireplace so that your kids can feel as cozy as possible. Fireplaces tend to get messy after a while, which means you need to clean yours up if you plan on using it in an efficient manner.
Dust and debris often form along the bottom of the fireplace, and they can significantly affect its performance. Even electric fireplaces aren’t exempt from this, as they often have dust built up from frequent usage. Cleaning it up is as easy as picking up your vacuum cleaner and clearing it out. A thorough clean will allow you to make the most of your cozy fireplace at any time of the night.
Conclusion
Dealing with minor maintenance repairs throughout the seasons seems tedious, but it’s crucial if you want to keep the benefits of your warranty. Taking care of them won’t take up a lot of your time, nor will it cost you much. Anything you do spend will only be an investment in saving money in the long run by preventing your home from being damaged. Take a good look at your home while consulting professionals and you should be good to go.
Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.
