Summer home maintenance checklist for Australian homes
Get air conditioning, pools, pests, gutters and outdoor areas ready for an Australian summer, and know when to book a professional.
Key takeaways
- Service air conditioning before the first heatwave, when technicians are busiest.
- Pool equipment faults show up quickly in heat — check circulation early.
- Summer is peak season for termites and other pests.
Air conditioning
Clean the filters, clear leaves from around the outdoor unit and run the system before hot weather arrives. Weak airflow, water leaking indoors, strange noises or error codes are worth fixing before a heatwave, when repair demand peaks.
Pools and spas
Check the pump primes and runs quietly, clean the skimmer and pump baskets, test water chemistry and inspect the pool fence and gate. Pool barrier rules apply in every state, and a self-closing gate that does not latch is a safety risk.
Pests
Warm weather brings termites, cockroaches, ants and spiders. Look for mud tubes on foundations, hollow-sounding timber and discarded wings. Do not disturb suspected termite activity — a pest inspection can confirm what is there.
Outdoors
Clean gutters before storm season, check decks for loose boards and fixings, trim vegetation away from the house and service any irrigation. In bushfire-prone areas, follow the bushfire preparation checklist too.
Before you travel
Turn off the water to the washing machine, set the hot-water system to holiday mode if it has one, and leave a contact and property details with someone you trust.
General information only, reviewed for Australian conditions. Rules differ between states and territories and change over time, so confirm details with the relevant regulator. Call 000 in an emergency. Editorial policy
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