Essential Home Maintenance Tasks to Complete before Autumn, as Suggested by Industry Experts for Seasonal Preparation

Autumn is upon us, and with the changing seasons comes a need to prepare our homes for the colder months ahead. Here are nine essential maintenance jobs to ensure your home is autumn-ready.

Checking Outside Taps and Pipes Jess Thomas, managing director of Drainage Central, advises checking over any outside taps and pipes for cracks, corrosion, or loose fittings before autumn. To prevent them from freezing and bursting during the colder months, it's important to disconnect any hoses, turn off the water supply to the tap, and drain any remaining water out of the tap. If unable to cut off the water supply, insulating the tap may be necessary.
Maintaining External Doors For composite and uPVC doors, washing with warm, soapy water, clearing out any drainage 'weep' holes, lubricating hinges and multipoint locks with a light silicone spray, and checking the door closes snugly all round are recommended. For timber doors, sealing all six faces, sanding and spot-priming any bare timber, and refreshing with two thin coats of a microporous exterior system are advised.
Bleeding Radiators Bleeding radiators is important to boost their efficiency and ensure maximum heat output, and can fix cold spots caused by trapped air.
Inspecting Roof Tiles and Flashings It's important to inspect roof tiles and flashings while the weather is still dry to detect and fix any loose flashings or damaged tiles that could cause trouble during winter storms.
Sweeping the Chimney For those with a working fireplace, sweeping the chimney is recommended to remove any build-up of soot, creosote, debris, and birds' nests, and to allow the fire to burn more efficiently.
Installing a Water Butt Installing a water butt is recommended for the wetter seasons, such as autumn and winter, to capture rainwater for use in the garden or for washing the car. This not only reduces the amount of water used from the tap but is also more environmentally responsible and lowers the water bill.
Professional Boiler Service A professional boiler service is highly recommended to ensure the boiler is running efficiently and safely, and to reduce the risk of breakdowns during winter.
Protecting Your Garden from Frost Protecting your garden from frost involves inspecting your driveway and paths before autumn to fill any cracks or holes before cold, wet weather sets in.
Cleaning Gutters Cleaning gutters before autumn is recommended as debris can cause water to overflow and flood the roof.

The 'September reset' is a term used to refer to the time to prepare homes for a gentle transition from the warm days of summer to the darker, colder and often wet and windy days of autumn. By carrying out these important home maintenance jobs now, you can ensure your home is ready to withstand the harsher conditions of the coming seasons.

Essential Home Maintenance Tasks to Complete before Autumn, as Suggested by Industry Experts for Seasonal Preparation