Summer Home Maintenance

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist  

We have put together the ultimate guide to prepare your home for the warmer months this year with our summer home maintenance checklist!

Remove dead leaves from gutters, roof and downpipes.

Debris build up in the roof and gutter system not only makes the homes drainage system less efficient in heavy downpours. When leaves dry out in the warmer months they also provide fuel for embers and increase risk of fire in the home.

Check out one of our previous blogs for some more tips on Gutter Maintenance 

Check the condition of your roof and external cladding to ensure there are no ember entry points.

Regular inspections of your homes exterior can prevent future large scale damage. Entry points for embers or moisture are often easily rectified but when left unnoticed can cause significant damage to your home.

Trim down any trees or plants that are close to your home.

Trees and other vegetation impacting the home can cause a number of issues. In summer, dry vegetation against the home can act as fuel and a bridge for fire to impact the home. Vegetation growing over the home can also cause debris in gutters as well as restricting ventilation to timber elements of the home and subfloor areas creating conditions conducive to timber pests. Cut back the spring vegetation growth to protect your home through the summer months.

Clean up around your home, keep lawns mowed and move things like mulch away from the house.

Reducing fuel around the home (overgrown grass, piles of mulch and leaves) around the home significantly reduces your homes susceptibility to fire.  Piles of mulch/leaves/loose timber close to the home also create conditions conducive to timber pests.

Clean and repair decks 

Prepare your deck for those summer bbqs by giving it a thorough clean. A quick tip – the active ingredient in most deck cleaning products is Sodium Percarbonate. This is also found in many other domestic cleaning products including Napisan (and generic alternatives).

Simply dilute 2 cups of Napisan in half a bucket of hot water and you have the perfect deck cleaning solution!

Clean and repair fly screens 

With the season of BBQs comes the season of flies and mosquitos. Cleaning your fly screens this time of year allows you to inspect for and repair any tears or damage to keep your home insect free when you open your windows to this summer!

Some other tips coming into fire season –

Check your smoke alarms.

Check fire extinguishers and fire blankets.

Keep informed of the Fire Danger Rating in your area, follow your Local CFA on social media, check the www.cfa.vic.gov.au webpage regularly and download the Vic Emergency app.

Check your home and contents insurance is up to date and has appropriate cover for fire related damage.

Discuss your Bushfire Survival Plan with your family and neighbours.