Seasonal home checklist

Nearly every costly home repair starts as something small and cheap to fix — a blocked gutter, a worn seal, a smoke alarm with a flat battery. The problem is they're easy to forget until they've become a ceiling stain or a flooded laundry.

This checklist breaks the year into four short rounds. None of these tasks needs a tradesperson, and most take a few minutes. Tick them off as you go — your progress saves automatically on this device.

Sep – Nov

Spring

≈ 5 min

Coming out of the cold — clear what winter left behind and get ahead of pollen, storms and the first warm spells.

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Clear the gutters and downpipesScoop out leaves and check water runs freely. Blocked gutters overflow into walls and eaves.Stops water damage

Test smoke alarms, swap flat batteriesPress and hold the test button on each unit. Replace any that chirp or stay silent.Life safety

Check window and door sealsLook for gaps or perished rubber. Good seals keep summer heat and winter cold where they belong.Cuts energy bills

Service the air conditioner before summerClean or replace filters and clear the outdoor unit. A clogged system works harder and costs more.Avoids breakdowns

Walk the roof line from the groundBinoculars are fine. Look for lifted, cracked or slipped tiles before storm season.Catches leaks early

Dec – Feb

Summer

≈ 5 min

Peak heat and fire-risk season. Keep things cool, clear and ready for a hot, dry spell.

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Clear dry leaves and debris from around the houseEspecially gutters, decks and against the walls. Dry litter is fuel in fire season.Fire safety

Check garden hoses and outdoor tapsLook for splits and leaks. You want them working when you actually need them.Saves water

Inspect fences, gates and deckingTighten loose boards and fixings while the timber is dry and easy to work on.Prevents rot & sag

Reverse ceiling fans to run anticlockwisePushes cool air down. A small switch on the fan body flips the direction.Cheap cooling

Check the fridge and freezer sealsShut a sheet of paper in the door — if it slides out easily, the seal needs replacing.Cuts running costs

Mar – May

Autumn

≈ 5 min

The big prep season. Get the house ready before the cold, wet weather sets in.

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Clear gutters again after leaf-fallAutumn dumps the most leaves of the year. Clear them before the winter rain arrives.Stops overflow

Service the heater before you need itClean filters, and have gas heaters checked. Book a service early before tradies get busy.Safety & warmth

Seal draughts around doors and windowsAdd weather strips and door snakes. Draughts are the cheapest heat-loss to fix.Warmer, cheaper

Check the roof and flashing for storm seasonLook for loose tiles and gaps where chimneys or vents meet the roof.Prevents leaks

Trim branches hanging over the roofCut back limbs that could drop or scrape in winter winds.Avoids damage

Jun – Aug

Winter

≈ 5 min

Cold, frosty and damp in Canberra. Watch for moisture, condensation and the heating running hard.

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Watch for condensation and mouldWipe down window sills and air out rooms on dry days. Damp build-up turns into mould fast.Protects health

Check pipes and outdoor taps before a frostInsulate exposed pipes. A burst from a hard freeze is a costly, messy fix.Prevents bursts

Test smoke alarms againHeaters and electric blankets are on — the highest-risk months for house fires.Life safety

Bleed radiators or check heating outputCold spots up top mean trapped air. Make sure every room is actually warming.Efficient heat

Inspect the roof space for leaksAfter heavy rain, check the ceiling and roof cavity for damp patches or drips.Catches leaks early