The Seasonal Maintenance Jobs That Prevent Expensive Repairs

Maintenance is not a list of chores so much as a small number of checks timed to catch failures before water gets involved. Water causes the expensive damage; everything below is really about keeping it outside.

Spring

• Inspect the roof from the ground with binoculars for slipped tiles and damaged flashing.
• Clear gutters and downpipes and check they run to a drain, not to the wall base.
• Check external timber and repaint any bare areas before summer swelling.
• Service air conditioning or ventilation before the first hot week.

Summer

• Repoint and reseal — dry conditions are the only time to do it well.
• Check loft ventilation and insulation depth while the space is workable.
• Test the sump pump and clean the extractor ducting.
• Trim vegetation back at least 300 mm from walls and roof edges.

Autumn

• Service the boiler or furnace before it is needed, not when it fails.
• Bleed radiators and check system pressure.
• Clear gutters again after leaf fall — this is the one people skip.
• Draught-proof doors and windows and insulate exposed pipework.

Winter

• Check for condensation on cold walls and in wardrobes on external walls.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and check their expiry dates.
• Watch ceilings and chimney breasts for new staining after heavy rain.
• Run unused taps and flush little-used toilets to keep traps sealed.