Get Your House Ready for Winter
With the change of seasons in Perth property owners, managers and renters should take a few simple precautions to get their properties ready for winter. As winter approaches, homes will require some simple home maintenance to ensure they are kept in top condition throughout Autumn and Winter.
Storms can hit at anytime – not just winter and they have the potential to cause serious damage to homes that haven’t been adequately secured and prepared.
Even minor storms can cause extensive damage to roofs, fences from falling trees and branches, and water damage to ceilings with gutters unable to cope with rain volume. Ensure your home is well maintained to avoid potential issues this winter.
Pruning trees
Prune any tree branches well clear of your house and garden fence to prevent them from falling onto your home. Trees and shrubs growing in close proximity to power lines are a safety risk and can cause fires, blackouts or power surges. Foliage and branches must be kept clear of power lines and any electricity infrastructure.
Check if punning is safe to do yourself – Before pruning tree branches or foliage, look around you for overhead powerlines – if not safe ensure you contact Western Power, your local council or a professional tree arborist to get advice.
Secure your gardens and yards
Make sure any loose objects in your yard, such as garden furniture, are secured so they won’t be blown around.
Roofs
Check your roof for any damaged, loose or missing tiles on your roof that may leak during winter’s storms. Not something easily done yourself but tiles and capping should be checked from time to time to make sure there are no broken tiles or other issues. Check all your gutters for blockages and rust, as well as checking whether the size of the flashing can cope with the water volume, especially in heavy downpours of rain. If you have colourbond roofs they should be checked anywhere leaks can occur – at seams, fasteners, ridge caps, ridge vents, flashings, valley gutters and skylights.
Leaky roofs
During a downpour, climb into the roof space to look for leaking around vents and skylights. Scan the underside of the ceilings for water stains. If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few tiles or a roofer for a larger section.
Clean gutters
Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain can drain.
Make sure the downpipes are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage. Also make sure the downpipes are also free of debris.
Check for damp and mould in bathrooms and cupboards
Reduce Condensation dampness by ensuring you have ceiling insulation to end simple cases of condensation dampness. Dry clothes outdoors whenever possible or use well-ventilated rooms.
Make sure air vents are not blocked. Keep furniture further away from the walls to improve air flow in the room. Close kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent steam travelling into colder rooms.
Chimneys
If you have one, ensure your chimney is cleaned and inspected before winter. Burning wood releases volatile gases that cool and condense on the inside of the chimney, forming sticky, smelly, highly flammable creosote. Allow enough of it to build up, and you run a risk of a chimney fire. Also make sure that the chimney is capped with screening to keep out rodents.
Check smoke alarms
This is a great time to check the operation — and change the batteries — on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced at least every 10 years and tested every year.
The team at Bushells Building and Maintenance are expert maintenance partners. If your home or business is in need to of one off or regular maintenance, contact the team today.
