Your home is one of the most important places in your life and likely the largest investment you’ll make, so you should always be doing as much as you can to look after it.
Unfortunately, life often gets in the way and it can be tough to keep on top of your to-do list. It’s important to prioritise jobs that can become problems later down the line, meaning you save yourself money and stress in the long-term.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of home maintenance jobs you should do every year, categorised by season.
12 home maintenance jobs to do every year
The easiest way to stay on top of your to-do list is to break down each task by season - after all, there’s no point worrying about things you should be doing over the winter if you’re in the middle of summer. With that in mind, here’s the 12 home maintenance tasks to take care of throughout the year:
1. Refresh your bathroom (Spring)
The bathroom is the one room in the house that everyone uses multiple times a day, meaning it’s often the room that sees the most wear-and-tear. Particular problem spots you’ll find is the sealant and grout throughout your bathroom, which often go neglected and can begin to mould or crack.
This doesn’t just look unappealing, it can also lead to further mould, damp and leaks. You should take the time to inspect any grout around your tiling to check for decay, cracks or holes. Clean the area first with a vinegar/water mixture and remove old or decayed grout with a grout saw, before dampening the tiles and replacing with a trusted product. As soon as it’s set, remove any excess.
Replacing sealant is relatively simple - remove the damaged sealant with a utility knife or specialist tool, clean the area, mask off your sealant lines to avoid damaging fittings and apply new sealant at a slow, even pace. By doing this once a year, you’ll ensure your bathroom is watertight and still looks fresh!
2. Set out a cleaning rota (Spring)
They call it spring cleaning for a reason! This is the perfect time of the year to perform a deep clean and set out a cleaning rota for the entire year.
If you struggle with clutter around the home, do an initial declutter during the spring and set specific times throughout the year that you’ll stay on top of any further clutter that starts to build.
This is also the perfect time to have a garden refresh. Wash down your patio, driveway or any back garden decking to ensure that you’re ready to enjoy the summer sun!
3. Cut your lawn (Spring)
Once the cold of the winter starts to disappear, it’s time to think about giving your garden some much-needed attention. The best time of the year to do your first lawn cut is early spring, just as the weather starts to heat up.
Just make sure you don’t go too far - you’ll want to set your mower to the highest setting and simply remove the top layer of grass. This way, your lawn will grow faster and, more importantly, thicker.
4. Service the boiler (Summer)
It’s unlikely you’ll use your boiler as much during the summer, meaning it’s the perfect time to get it serviced. Boilers are one of the most important parts of the home and manufacturers recommend an annual service to ensure it’s working efficiently.
Your insurance may also stipulate that your boiler requires regular maintenance, so get in touch with a professional during the summer and get it sorted ready for the winter. It’s worth reading through the manual before the winter as well as there may be some tasks you can do yourself - such as checking water pressure - before you first start it up.
5. Clean out pipes (Summer)
It’s one of the least appealing jobs around the home but keeping your pipes clean and unblocked means they’ll last much longer - especially during the summer when your bath or shower will likely see heavier use.
Take the time to do a deep clean using heavier drain cleaning solutions such as gels or foams that thoroughly clean the entire system. If you want a natural alternative you can mix boiling water, bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar which can be used more regularly and speed up drainage.
6. Repair windows (Summer)
Fixing up your windows to ensure an effective seal is an ideal job to perform during the summer. Take the time to check for air leaks, damaged caulking or decaying frames and perform necessary repairs. Clean the area, replace caulk and if necessary, touch up the frames with paint.
If you find more serious damage around your windows, it might be worth speaking with a professional to get them fixed before the winter comes and you start losing energy efficiency around the home.
7. Clear guttering (Autumn)
Gutters are an underrated aspect of the home and vital for draining all of the rainwater that we typically see during the autumn and winter months. The priority is to check for broken guttering, as this leads to water running down the exterior of your home and causing brickwork damage, leaks or even damp.
Blocked gutters are less serious but still a problem, especially if they’re left until the winter freeze hits. You’ll want to clear any leaves, moss or debris build-up to maintain a free-flowing gutter system.
8. Bleed radiators (Autumn)
Your radiators see a lot of action during winter so it’s worth doing a maintenance check on them during the autumn - especially before you first turn on your heating.
Bleeding a radiator is relatively simple once you know how and simply removes any build-up of air in the system, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and more effective heating.
If you want to know more about bleeding a radiator, you can check out our existing customer home maintenance guide.
9. Check carpeting (Autumn)
An unusual, but nevertheless important, maintenance job to perform is checking your carpets for unwanted guests. Household pests such as carpet beetles typically enter your home during the autumn as they’re seeking somewhere to hibernate and unfortunately, they eat anything made with natural fibres.
It’s worth inspecting your carpets for signs of intruders such as thinning areas, damage or even holes. If you do suspect you have carpet beetles in the home, take the time to buy the appropriate cleaning solutions before any further damage is done.
10. Check your electrics (Winter)
During the winter months we all typically use more electricity - mainly because we’re indoors more or celebrating holidays. This means early winter is the perfect time to ensure everything is running safely and efficiently. Take the time to schedule a professional check of your fuse box and wider electrical system.
As always, ensure you’re being safe around the home in terms of not overloading plugs, outlets or extension leads and always switch off Christmas lights or appliances when you’re not using them to save on your energy bills.
11. Inspect any valves or plumbing (Winter)
As the weather gets colder, the chances of a leak, burst pipe or other plumbing problem significantly increases. Take the time during winter to check taps and valves are properly lubricated and operating correctly.
Likewise, if you have an external water supply, it’s worth draining and then turning this off for the winter. You’re not likely to use a hose or external tap during these months and if you do this early enough, you’ll mitigate the risk of built up water in the pipes freezing and bursting.
12. Maintain larger appliances (Winter)
Part of your larger cleaning rota should include the cleaning and maintenance of larger appliances. Take the time to clean out your fridge, replace water filters and check seals.
Likewise, perform deep cleans on your dishwasher and oven either by getting in touch with a professional or buying the heavy-duty cleaning kits available.
