Christmas is fast approaching, and for many of us is set to be the busiest season of the year. Amongst all of the gift-giving, wining, dining, and spending valuable time with loved ones, the last thing you want to be thinking about is home maintenance – and now is the perfect time to get a head start!
This comprehensive guide by property expert Thomas Goodman at MyJobQuote.co.uk will take you through the essential home maintenance tasks to do before the Christmas rush hits, ensuring that your home is prepared for winter and beyond.
Deep Clean Your Home
Over the Christmas period, we want our homes to look their best, but you may not have much time for cleaning once the festivities begin. Now is the time to update your cleaning checklist and get around to tackling the areas that often get neglected, such as the oven, microwave, skirting boards, curtains and blinds. Give hard-to-reach areas a really deep scrub to ensure that your home is clean, hygienic and a beautiful environment to snuggle up in this winter.
It is also a great time to clean out kitchen cupboards to make way for the bounty of Christmas goodies. Remove everything from your cupboards and sort through it, getting rid of anything that is out of date and no longer useful. Move any important items that you may have forgotten about nearer to the front – it is always useful to have your favourite herbs and spices near to the front, ready to cook for and entertain guests.
Schedule a Boiler Inspection
Before the temperatures drop too low, it is vital to inspect your heating system to ensure that it is working efficiently. Gas and oil boilers should ideally be serviced once a year by a qualified heating engineer to ensure they are running to their maximum potential and efficiency. With autumn fully underway, it is a great time to get your boiler checked to avoid being left without heating on a cold, frosty morning.
As well as ensuring that your home is adequately heated, you may be able to save yourself a lot on winter energy bills. You can save between 20% and 35% a year on upgrading your boiler to a more energy-efficient model if you are currently relying on an older one. Winter is the busy season for engineers, so getting your service booked in now will help you beat the rush.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
With the falling leaves of autumn comes the responsibility of keeping your gutters clean. Clogged gutters can lead to water pooling on your roof, causing leaks and damage. The time has come to grab a sturdy ladder, put on some protective gloves, and remove the leaves and debris from your gutters and downspouts (or call in a professional to help)!
Make sure to flush out your gutters with water afterwards to ensure proper drainage, and if you notice any signs of rust or damage, it might be wise to consider a repair or replacement before winter weather compounds the issue.
Ice dams can form when snow and ice on the roof of your home melt, run into the gutters, and re-freeze due to cold temperatures. When an ice dam forms, it can prevent proper drainage and cause water to collect under shingles, moving moisture to damage your roof. They can be exacerbated by gutters that already have a buildup of debris due to a lack of cleaning, so removing those autumn leaves will be a huge help when winter hits!
Check Your Roof and Loft
It is a good idea to check your roof before the cold temperatures and potentially even snow can cause more damage to existing issues. First, carry out a visual inspection of the exterior of your property for signs of wear and tear or possible hazards, either using a ladder or by calling in the help of professionals.
Checking your roof, as well as your loft insulation, will save you a lot of money before problems arise. A faulty roof can be one of the costliest aspects of your home to repair. Heavy rain and strong winds can cause or further damage, so it is an important time to carry out these checks and save yourself from stress over the Christmas period.
Bleed and Flush Your Radiators
Bleeding and flushing radiators can help you save on energy costs by increasing their overall efficiency – leaving you with more money for Christmas gifts and enjoying festivities! Bleeding a radiator removes trapped air from inside the system and allows hot water to circulate more effectively, therefore increasing efficiency.
Flushing will remove any sludge and debris that is preventing your radiator from performing properly, which means it will take less time to heat up. Heating can be a costly process, so any step to reduce the time it takes will be a big help as the colder months approach.
By doing these checks on your radiators each year, you can also extend their lifespan, ensure that they are warming your home throughout without leaving cold spots, and reduce strain on your boiler.
Declutter Your Living Room
The living room is the heart of the home, and you will likely want to turn it into a cosy, characterful space before Christmas. While your decorations may still be in the loft, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start now by getting rid of any unnecessary clutter. This will save you a lot of time later on and allow you to jump straight into the fun of decorating!
Get rid of any items that are no longer providing functional value or sparking joy (charity donations are always especially appreciated at this time of year). If needed, invest in more smart storage solutions like large wicker baskets where you can tuck items away to make way for your Christmas décor. Take time to review any ornaments on your shelves and make sure that you are only displaying those which you really love.
Final Thoughts
Whilst home maintenance tasks aren’t something we want to be doing over Christmas, that doesn’t mean that they can simply be ignored. By getting stuck into these essential tasks sooner rather than later, you can give yourself that extra piece of mind this Christmas, allowing you to enjoy the festive period in all its glory!
THOMAS GOODMAN
Thomas Goodman has worked as a property and construction expert for MyJobQuote for seven years and has worked in the construction industry for over twenty years. Thomas continues to work on building projects while providing expert construction and property advice to industry professionals and DIY enthusiasts.
MyJobQuote is one of the UK’s top trades matching sites that helps individuals find a reputable tradesperson in their local area.
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