Whether you’re a true handyman (or woman) or not so inclined, there are some simple home maintenance projects anyone can tackle this weekend. As Autumn well and truly settles in, it’s the perfect time to start to get your home in order for cooler days. So start checking things off your maintenance to-do list with these simple 30-minute tasks:
Inspect and clean all your gutters and down pipes. Clean out any debris you find in the gutters and down pipe drains. You can use a wire brush and a dust pan to help you scrape leaves and twigs loose and drop them to the ground for pick up later.
Inspect, and possibly clean air conditioning filters. This is a task that is easily forgetten but if you've had the air conditioning running all Summer it's important to check and clean your filters, especially if you plan to also run your heating system soon. If the filter is dirty, its time to clean it, otherwise inspect it again within the next few months.
Check all the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Check your fire extinguishers while you’re at it. Use this time to set an alarm in your phone to remind you to do it again in 6 months’ time!
Check your sprinkler system. Before you turn off your sprinklers for the season, turn them on and make sure they still are spraying in the direction you intended. Lawn mowing equipment can cause connections to come lose and seals to break, in addition to changing the direction of the spray heads. Check for any leakage and make sure water drains away from your house.
Rejuvenate your landscaping. Choose a simple landscaping task to create real visual appeal in your yard. Adding fresh mulch to flower beds and gardens is a quick way to clean up the look of your yard. If the warm weather has caused weeds to pop up, spend some time pulling them before adding mulch. Another way to add quick visual appeal is to clean up edging along drive ways, paths and flower gardens. While relatively quick and easy, little tasks like these can make a striking difference to the look of your home.
By starting with these simple jobs, your to-do list will quickly begin to look much shorter and you will start to really notice the difference around your home.