Prep your house for winter
When the winter weather hits, what would you rather say to your family and friends?
A: “Gee, I’m glad I did those autumn jobs when I had the chance.”
B: “Gee, I wish I’d done those autumn jobs when I had the chance.”
Assuming we’d all prefer option A, here are five jobs you should complete now before the cooler weather arrives. You’ll sleep better, safe in the knowledge that your property is prepared for winter’s harsh effects.
1. Clean your gutters and check the roof
Living in the driest state on the driest continent doesn’t mean we don’t see gutter-blocking downpours in winter. Avoid stormwater problems by cleaning and inspecting your roof, gutters and drains regularly.
Remove leaves and other debris from your gutters and stormwater drains and check your downpipes aren’t blocked by running a hose through to check that water’s flowing strongly from the other end. You’ll also want to know if your roof has broken or missing tiles, metal sheets or seals.
Getting up high on a ladder or the roof is dangerous, so rather than risk injury or worse, get in touch with RAA Trade Assist for expert help on everything roof related.
2. Prepare your garden
Autumn is perfect for pruning because the hot weather is behind us, and many trees and shrubs are starting to prepare for winter. Remove dead or diseased branches to promote healthy growth in spring. Planting is ideal in autumn too, because the soil is still warm, and increased rainfall helps plants get a foothold before the summer heat.
There’s still time to sow or roll out a new lawn, or if you have an existing lawn, give it a bit of TLC. Apply the appropriate weedkiller and after a week or so, cut the grass a bit shorter and catch the clippings. Use lawn seed or plugs to fill bare patches (make furrows with a rake first), and then aerate and dethatch the whole lawn. Do this yourself with a garden fork and rake, or head to your local equipment hire shop. Lastly, apply fertiliser to promote deep root growth and keep your lawn greener in winter.
3. Seal draughts
To find draughts in your home, carefully run a lit candle along door and window joints and other gaps. A flickering or extinguished flame will expose any draughts, which you can seal with self-adhesive rubber strips, silicone sealant or expanding spray foam, depending on where there are gaps.
If the draughts are coming through the floor, consider installing carpet in the most affected rooms or place a rug over the gaps. Draughts often enter around doors, so install a metal door sweep with a rubber guard to keep out cold air, dust and leaves. For internal doors, a door snake or rolled-up towel works wonders. Lastly, if it’s been a while since you checked your insulation, now’s the time to remedy that, but take all the proper safety precautions first or call in the licensed experts.
4. Paint and seal outside
Not many people jump at the thought of painting or sealing outside, but a small investment of time and money in autumn can payoff in winter and beyond. Regular cleaning and sealing of your decking, pergola, fences, window frames or other exposed timber will prolong their lives and keep them looking schmick year-round. Timber decking should be oiled and sealed at least yearly, but it should be high-pressure cleaned first to remove moss, dirt and cobwebs. There are oil and water-based timber sealants on the market so check the packaging for instructions on when to use and re-use them on windows, doors and other surfaces.
Paint cracked or peeling outside? Prepare the surface thoroughly before giving it a couple of coats of paint designed to handle our harsh Aussie weather.
5. Service your heater
Whether you have gas, electric or wood heating, it’s wise to service it at least annually. This will keep your heater working efficiently and economically and in extreme cases prevent it from releasing lethal carbon monoxide.
Some things you can (and should) do yourself, such as cleaning the filters regularly, but leave the major service to the professionals. Don’t leave heater maintenance or installation too late because as the weather gets colder demand will soar and may increase the waiting time.
RAA Trade Assist can provide a licensed air-conditioning professional to look after your heating and cooling needs.