The British Summer is questionable but it is a great time of the year to get certain parts of your house and garden sorted before the weather gets bad. Thankfully, these are the types of jobs that only need to be dealt with once a year. So, what jobs can you do at home during the summer that fall into the “one and done” list? I have some ideas that you can make a start with to prepare your home for winter.
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Clear the gutters
During the winter, the wind and rain can blow a lot of rubbish into your gutters. The problem with this is that once that rubbish is in there, it can be hard to get rid of. Unfortunately, once this stuff is in there, it tends to stay in there. Adding to the problem, wet leaves can break down, creating a type of “soil” (and I’m using that term very loosely) that other things can grow in. That is why weeds can sprout in your gutters if you don’t clean them out every year. If you aren’t afraid of heights, you can get a big ladder and a friend to clear them out. If seeing the roof of your house isn’t your idea of a good time, you can hire a professional team. However, there are window cleaners who offer this service so it could be worth your while to speak to them.
Power hose the pathways
Dirt and moss can make your garden and pathways look messy. Do you know what else dirt and moss is? Slippy when it rains. In the winter, we can see a lot of rain. Combine moss, rain, and darker afternoons, you have a problem. The last thing we want to deal with after a cold commute home is slipping (and falling) on our own pathway outside our home. Besides, looking at a dirty garden when you are trying to relax in the garden isn’t very zen. This is another one of those jobs that can be carried out by a professional. I will warn you, if you decide to power hose the garden by yourself, you will end up wet and covered in dirt. But it is totally worth it.
Clear your drains
The drains that leave your home can become blocked from general use. For example, the drain that carries the waste water from my washing machine can get really gunky. If I don’t clean it out, I could have a blockage. The simple fact is, the soap, cleaning products, and all that nasty stuff that goes down our drains can build up over time. If you have a busy household like mine, and your drains get a battering everyday, getting annual CCTV Drain Surveys can help save you from a massive headache. Who wants to deal with a blocked toilet at any point of the year? Nobody. But handling it in the summer by checking and clearing your drains will help to ensure your house runs smoothly all year round.
Service your heating system
If the British Summer was questionable, there is no doubt that the winter is set to be even worse. As someone who has lived in different rentals and had heating systems break down in the middle of winter, I cannot stress the importance of keeping your heating system in good condition. The simple fact is, even if you rent, your heating system is best managed by you (even though your landlord is supposed to ensure it is in good working order). An annual service will help identify any problems before the system is put under pressure in the colder months. And if your heating system is getting a bit older, it might be worth your while upgrading to a newer system.
Get a skip
I left home over twenty years ago and could move all of my stuff in the back of a car. Now, it would take a very large lorry. Over the years, I have collected a lot of stuff. Do I need it all? No. Does some of it need to be dumped because it is broken and doesn’t fit in my car or bin? Yes. Getting a skip once a year is a great way to clear out any rubbish that has been collected in your home. As much as I love the concept of “reduce, reuse, and recycle”, it doesn’t always work. There will always be items that the charity shops don’t want, you can’t give away on freecycle groups, and they end up taking up room in your home. If they are there for several months, it might be time to get a skip and have a clear out.