Summer home maintenance checklist

NSW Health advises checking that air conditioners, fans, refrigerators and freezers work, and shading the side of the home that faces the sun.

A clogged filter makes the unit work harder in exactly the weather you cannot afford to lose it.

NSW Health advises checking in with family and friends who may be more at risk during hot weather to see if there is anything they need.

The SA Country Fire Service lists removing leaves from gutters among summer maintenance, and DFES notes the bushfire risk is highest in the hottest, driest part of the year.

The SA Country Fire Service advises maintaining defendable space of up to 20 metres around the home and keeping bark, mulch and wood piles away from it.

The NSW Government warns that loose items such as garden furniture and toys become hazards in strong winds.

NSW Health says that where water enters the home, water-damaged carpets and building materials must be completely cleaned and dried, and anything that cannot be dried should be discarded.

Get Ready Queensland's advice for the season is to make an emergency plan and pack a kit before the weather arrives.

NSW Health advises exactly this, because mould grows indoors in wet or moist areas that lack adequate ventilation.

NSW Health advises repairing water leaks and plumbing problems promptly to stop mould taking hold.

Pool barrier requirements are set by each state and territory, and a propped-open gate defeats all of them.

Restrictions and watering days are set by your water utility or council and change between regions and seasons.

Outdoor structures take the most weight and the most sun in summer.

Warm, wet weather brings pests indoors; a nest in an awkward spot is a job for a licensed pest controller.

Queensland requires interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms complying with AS 3786-2014 in all homes by 1 January 2027, and the Tasmania Fire Service says to have one in every hallway, living area and garage, on every storey and wherever anyone sleeps.