As the weather changes, the jobs that you need to do in your home change too.

The outside of our homes requires our care more often than you might think. From blazing sun to hail and ice. The outside of our homes sees it all. So what can you do to maintain your home well? 

Windows

Oh yes, your windows need to be carefully maintained. Why? They are one of the lines of defense against the cold and help keep your bills lower than they might be. Aside from being regularly cleaned so you get the maximum light into your home, the sealant needs to be cared about too. 

Your sealant can often become moldy because windows deal with a lot—especially the ones in your kitchen and bathroom. Condensation can build up, and often we can miss the build-up because windowsills can be used for storage. 

The outside of the windows also deal with different weathers, and sometimes all within in the same hour. Head out with a cloth and give all of the corners a good clean; it will give you the opportunity to call a window repair person or to reseal and tidy them up yourself. 

Refrigerators

Clean out the refrigerator once a month. Stray food particles, sticky patches, and more can appear in the fridge. Cleaning them improves how you keep your fresh food. The condenser coils are on the back of your fridge. They can get very dusty, filled with cobwebs and more. When this happens, they are no longer able to release heat. 

The harder the compressor needs to work, the more likely it is your refrigerator will need to be repaired or fail completely. You can carefully clean away dust and cobwebs using a coil cleaning brush. They are designed to fit in all of the hard-to-reach places. 

Roof

The roof, much like the windows and doors, doesn’t get much thought about it. Yet your roof, with even the smallest amount of damage, can cause havoc in the rest of your home. 

You might notice drafts or leaks, which will give you an obvious indicator there is something going on with your roof. If your home has an old roof, it might be worth considering a roof replacement. This will give you peace of mind that you won’t have to worry about your roof for a few years. 

Pest Check

Little critters like to sneak in during the winter months and multiply quickly in the spring, followed by ravaging your house over the following months. 

Take some time to check all of the hidden places in your home. Storage cupboards, pantries, basements, unused spaces are the perfect places for mice and other pests to hideout. 

Testing

There are a number of alarms around your home that can help to keep you safe. However, if they aren’t maintained, you can never be sure if they will work when you need them too. 

Go around the house and test the batteries on your smoke alarms, your carbon dioxide detectors. The test button will let you know if the device is working. Some fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors need to be professionally checked out.

Test all of the taps and toilets inside and outside of the home. Anything that isn’t used regularly can have a build-up, and running some water can help flush that out. 

Drains and Gutters

You need to be sure that rainwater will flow away from your house rather than sit against your outer walls and begin to damage them over time. 

If the water takes 24 hours to drain, here are some steps that you can take:

• Book a drain cleaner
• Consider having your external paving raised to help protect your home.

Gutters have a habit of getting filled up with debris, nests, and grow moss very quickly. Depending on your gutters’ height, you can clean them out yourself or have your drains and gutters done at the same time. 

Heating and Cooling

If you’re heading into the summer, then one of the things you’ll need to check out is your HVAC or your portable air conditioning unit is in good working order. The faster you create a cool atmosphere, the more luck you’ll have to keep your home cool. 

If you’re heading for a cold snap, then it’s time to work on your heating. Double-check that all of your radiators and portable heaters are in good working order. 

These small maintenance jobs will help you have a smoother year, with a lot less of those big repairs bills.