Household maintenance checklist for winter

Get your heater serviced

A well-maintained heating system is essential for keeping your home warm and your energy bills manageable. Having a qualified professional inspect your heating system is an essential step to help ensure it is working well and efficiently. They can identify any potential issues, such as worn-out parts, leaks or inefficiencies that could compromise the performance of your heating system when you need it most. This preventative measure helps avoid unexpected breakdowns during the coldest months of the year.

During the inspection, the technician will typically check and clean critical components as well as replace dirty filters and clear blockages in the ductwork, which can otherwise circulate dust and allergens throughout your home. Regular maintenance and inspections not only prolong the lifespan of your heating system but also enhance safety by helping to identify potential hazards like carbon monoxide leaks if you have a gas heater. 

Clean your gutters

Gutters play a vital role in directing rainwater and melting ice or snow from your roof, walls and foundation. When gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs and other debris, they cannot function properly, leading to water overflow. This can cause a range of problems, including water damage to your roof and inside your house.

Hire a professional to give your gutters a thorough clean. A gutter specialist can also identify roof and gutter damage that should be repaired. If you choose to clean your gutters yourself, always use safety equipment such as gloves and non-slip shoes. You will also need a sturdy ladder, a bucket and a hose. However, be aware that working at height on a ladder can be risky.

Inspect your chimney, fireplace and smoke alarms

Inspecting and cleaning your fireplace and chimney before winter sets in is essential to both safety and efficiency. Over time, chimneys can accumulate creosote, a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood, which poses a significant fire hazard if not removed. Additionally, blockages caused by debris, animal nests, or structural damage can obstruct the airflow, leading to smoke and harmful gases like carbon monoxide backing up into your home. A thorough inspection and cleaning by a professional can identify and rectify these issues, helping ensure that your fireplace operates safely and efficiently throughout the winter months. 

Your smoke alarms are also vitally important to helping ensure safety in your home. Check that they are working properly by pressing the smoke alarm's test button to make sure it beeps. If the smoke alarm doesn't beep, or sounds laboured, then its battery may need changing. If you’re unsure of testing or replacing your smoke alarm batteries yourself, you can get a qualified professional to assist.

Insulate your roof

Proper roof insulation serves as a barrier against the harsh cold and helps to reduce your energy bills. Heat naturally rises, and without adequate insulation, the warmth generated by your heating system will escape through the roof. This means your heating system has to work harder and consume more energy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

A properly insulated roof can help create a more even distribution of heat, eliminating cold spots and drafts. Doing this can also help preserve the structural integrity of your roof. Excessive heat loss can lead to the expansion and contraction of roofing materials, causing wear and tear over time.

Seal your windows and doors

Windows and doors are common sources of draughts, which can significantly lower your home's temperature. Applying caulking to windows will help seal any gaps or cracks around the window frame, which can significantly improve your home’s insulation during winter. These gaps and cracks are common culprits in letting in cold air and allowing warm air to escape. It’s important to choose the right type of caulk, such as latex for interior as it seals well around joints and gaps, and silicon for exterior as it is more durable and weather resistant. 

One of the ways you can seal doors is by installing weatherstripping around the edges of doors to prevent cold air from seeping in. Weatherstripping is a type of door seal typically made of materials like foam, felt, vinyl and metal, making it a versatile solution for many doors. Weatherstripping serves as a barrier that seals the gaps and cracks around doors, which are common entry points for drafts. Regularly inspecting and replacing worn-out weatherstripping helps to ensure that your home remains well-insulated against the winter chill. 

Protect exterior timber

If you have a weatherboard house, it’s important to regularly inspect the timber for any signs of cracks or rotting. Extreme weather, such as storms, can damage the surface of the weatherboards. An experienced painter can not only paint the exterior walls, they can repair peeling or cracking paint, fill holes and cracks and reseal surfaces as part of a general maintenance job.

It’s advisable to wash your weatherboard home once a year to remove dirt and dust and to repaint it every five to seven years to ensure the integrity of the boards and prevent rot. Weatherboards homes are also susceptible to termite damage, so maintain air flow under the house and keep dead foliage away from the foundations.

Have a qualified carpenter repair or replace rotten weatherboards as soon as possible to prevent costly structural damage and pest infestations.

Protect your pipes

If pipes are exposed to temperatures of -6ºC or colder for prolonged periods, they can freeze and burst, causing significant damage. The good news is that temperatures generally don't get cold enough in Victoria to cause frozen pipes.

If you do have any concerns, you can insulate exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas like the garage or basement. Using pipe insulation sleeves or wrapping them in heat tape can help maintain a stable temperature and prevent freezing.