Most home problems in Melbourne’s north are cheaper to prevent than to fix. A blocked gutter in autumn becomes a ceiling stain in winter, and a dusty air conditioner in spring becomes a breakdown on the first 38-degree day. This home maintenance checklist runs through the jobs worth booking each season and the local businesses that can help.
Autumn: get ready for wet weather
Leaves from plane trees, gums and ornamental pears fill gutters fast from March to May, especially in leafy suburbs like Eltham, Greensborough and Ivanhoe.
- Clear gutters and downpipes, and check for rust or sagging sections
- Look for cracked or slipped roof tiles after the first big storm
- Check your heater or ducted heating before you need it
- Trim branches that overhang the roof
Find help: roofing and guttering, air conditioning and heating and landscapers and gardeners.
Winter: inside jobs
Winter is a good time for the indoor work that’s easy to put off.
- Test smoke alarms and replace any that are more than 10 years old
- Get a licensed electrician to look at flickering lights, tripping circuits or an old switchboard
- Have gas heaters serviced by a licensed gasfitter
- Book painting and flooring jobs, when trades are often less busy
Find help: electricians, plumbers and gasfitters, painters and decorators and flooring and carpets.
Spring: pests and outdoor work
As the weather warms up, insects become active again. Spring is also the best time to get outdoor projects started before summer.
- Book a pest inspection, especially if you have timber decks, fences or a home near bushland
- Service your air conditioner before the first heatwave
- Repair fences and gates, and get quotes for paving or concreting
- Tidy the garden and mulch garden beds to hold moisture over summer
Find help: pest control, fencing and gates and concreting and paving.
Summer: heat and bushfire season
Suburbs on the edge of the city, from Doreen and Mernda to Hurstbridge and the Kinglake towns, need to plan for bushfire season as well as the heat.
- Clear gutters again before the fire danger period
- Cut back long grass and remove garden waste
- Check your air conditioner is running well and clean the filters
- Make sure gates, locks and security lights are working before you go on holidays
Find help: locksmiths and security, cleaners and landscapers and gardeners.
Tips for booking a tradie
- Get two or three written quotes for bigger jobs
- Ask for licence and insurance details, and check them
- Book early in autumn and spring, when the best local trades fill up
Every business in our directory is free to list, so you’ll find small local operators alongside the bigger names. Browse all categories to find someone near you.
