Six things to do around your home this Autumn to prepare for the cooler months

Many of us have a little extra time on your hands at the moment, that's what it is a great time to prepare your home for winter. Think spring cleaning in reverse!

Below are some autumn maintenance tips to keep your home looking in top condition.

1. Test and clean your heating systems

It’s probably been a while since you turned on your heater. You don’t want to wait until the start of the cool season and winter months to make sure it works – autumn is the perfect time to give them a quick test run. If you have a heat pump (air conditioner), now is also an excellent time to clean or replace the filter that might have been gathering dust for the last six months.

You can even organise for your heat pump to be serviced by a professional, which will help to ensure it has a longer lifespan too.

2. Practice good garden care

Not only is it going to be rainy over winter, but it’s also going to be windy too. Inspect all your trees – especially those that could damage you or your neighbour’s property. It’s a good idea to remove or prune back any branches that hang over your home in autumn.

Don’t prune everything though. Leaving plants with seeds and berries adds some interest and colour to the garden, as well as providing a feast for birds and insects.

Autumn is also a great time to fertilise your lawn as it protects it through the winter months.

Add 5 – 8cm of mulch to garden beds (taking care not to pile the mulch against the base of the plant). This will help protect roots over winter. It also helps stop those pesky weeds from breaking through!

Why not start making compost? Many trees are dropping their leaves, which you’ll need to use. Make sure you get the balance right between garden waste and kitchen scraps in the compost mix for the best results.

3. Clear your gutters and drains

With winter coming, you can expect rain. Overflowing water due to downpipes that are full of leaves and other debris will deteriorate the exterior surfaces of your home and can cause water to seep inside. Safely clean out your gutters towards the end of autumn and consider installing a gutter guard to help prevent build up in the future.

4. Seal cracks and gaps

Cracks and gaps account for a lot of the heat that leaves your home, so the time to cover them up is now. Do a thorough inspection of your home to find where these gaps are - both inside and out. You can do the caulking yourself with the right equipment from your local hardware store (now available online). Simply locate the gaps and patch them up!

You might even have a draught coming from under your door – the simplest solution is a draught stopper. These can be picked up cheap from a lot of different retailers like Kmart and The Warehouse.

5. Prep your deck

Natural materials, such as timber, are affected when exposed to the elements and should be oiled at least once per year, especially if they have no roof or sail to protect them from the elements. Not only does this help to protect it from rain, but it also ensures that it looks great too!

6. Test your smoke alarms

Autumn is the best time of year to ensure that your smoke alarms are working, as we start to blast the heaters and fireplaces more frequently. Testing the alarms is simple enough; you can use the end of a broom to hit the test button. If you can’t remember when you last changed the batteries it is worth doing so just in case.

Most people will avoid doing outside work in the cold weather for obvious reasons, so hopefully, these home maintenance ideas will help you on your way this Autumn so that you’re ready for the change in season.