Winter home maintenance checklist

NSW Health advises turning on exhaust fans particularly when bathing, showering, cooking, doing laundry and drying clothes, and opening windows when the weather permits for cross ventilation.

NSW Health says mould grows indoors in wet or moist areas that lack adequate ventilation, and lists runny or blocked nose, eye and skin irritation and wheezing among its effects.

NSW Health says water-damaged carpets and building materials must be completely cleaned and dried, and material that cannot be dried completely should be discarded.

Winter rain finds the flashings and penetrations that survived summer, and wet insulation stops working.

The NSW Government says to clear gutters, downpipes and drains regularly to prevent blockages, and the SA Country Fire Service puts removing leaves from gutters at the centre of bushfire preparation.

The NSW Government advises securing loose items around the home because they become hazards in strong winds.

The SA Country Fire Service puts clearing gutters and creating clear space around the home in its winter priorities, ahead of the next fire season.

The SA Country Fire Service lists ember-proofing — sealing gaps and areas underneath the home and repairing loose tiles or roof gaps — as winter work.

Gas work is licensed work in Australia; if you are in any doubt about an appliance, stop using it and call a licensed gasfitter.

Heaters cause house fires in exactly this way, and drying washing indoors also puts the water straight into the room's air.

A hot water system usually gives warning before it fails; winter is when it is worked hardest.

Frost is a local problem in Australia rather than a national one, but pipes on an exposed wall in the highlands still split.

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.

Termite damage is found, not noticed: if you see either sign, get a professional inspection rather than opening it up yourself.