A big part of being a homeowner is, of course, maintaining your house. And every season has its set of chores, a list of tasks that you need to get done if you want to live in a place that’s worth living in. furthermore, regular maintenance lowers costs and expenses, it saves you from some long-term issues and problems. So, below you can find a list on how to maintain your place so that it can withstand Australia’s surprisingly difficult colder months.
Keep your chimney clean
If you have one, try to keep your chimney in the best possible condition. Having your fireplace inspected (or you doing it yourself) is very important. A clogged chimney is a serious fire hazard and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. So, unless you have a lot of experience, have a professional clean it out once your notice it needs to be swepeed.
Maintain your trees
If you have any trees or heavy foliage near your home, you should try to trim and fix it up as soon as possible. Tree branches can snap and fall off because of snow or difficult weather. These can then fall on your house, causing property damage and actual physical injuries. Even the snow itself can accumulate on these branches and fall in great volumes on somebody, all of a sudden. We suggest you have these branches trimmed, and maybe even think about chopping down old trees that look dangerously close to falling over.
Check your windows and doors for cracks
It’s pretty expensive keeping a home warm during the winter months. You can have excellent heating systems, have the best gas heating in Canberra, a very strong furnace, it doesn’t matter. If you have cracks where hot air leaks out, and through which cold air comes in, you’re just gonna be wasting money. Have your windows and doors inspected, check if there are any cracks or holes through which are can move. Seale them with caulk, tape, or get PVC windows installed if you have the means and the time. This is especially important during the winter when you need it the most.
Clean out your gutters
Strong winds and heavy storms can severely damage your gutters. However, even lighter weather leads to them being filled up with debris, like twigs, leaves, and dirt. A clogged gutter will overflow, accumulate water, and crack. It can also then lead water to your home, instead of away from it, causing even more damage.
By cleaning out your gutters, you avoid this issue. However, you also get the opportunity to check if any ice has formed, something that can be absolutely disastrous, creating cracks and structural damage.
Check your roof
Finally, check your roof. See if it’s in good shape if there are any leaks or holes. They should be fixed up quickly no matter what time of year it is, but during the winter this is especially important. A serious storm or heavy snowfall can make any issue much worse, it’s just begging for disaster. Check your shingles, see if there is any moss, or if there are any cracks. Replace loose tiles and panels, and if you have a wooden roof then check for any signs of mould or rot in your attic as well.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks, a couple of ways you can keep your home maintained during the winter. While a lot of this work may sound expensive or simply tedious, you need to keep in mind that it really ads up. Cleaning out your gutters, fixing up your roof, having your chimney sweeped, this all saves you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.