Now is the best time to be thinking about all the jobs you need to do in the autumn to ensure your property is ready for whatever the winter throws at your property.

To help you get started, here are the ten jobs we should all have at the top of our lists.

10 autumn jobs

  1. Clear up garden debris. Leaves are the main culprit, strewn over our outside spaces and blown in from the surrounding areas, with the potential to cause further trouble if they are allowed to accumulate in gutters and over drains. Also, look out for branches, broken fencing or anything else that can be blown around as the winds pick up strength.
  2. Trim branches on trees and bushes. Removing overhanging or dead branches reduces the risk of them falling and damaging your premises or vehicles.
  3. Secure fences. Make sure fence panels are not broken and are securely fixed so they can’t be blown around in the wind.
  4. Clear gutters. Remove any debris that may have collected in your gutter to ensure that water can flow freely into drainpipes. If water sits in your gutters it may cause damage to both your property and to the guttering.
  5. Clear drain covers. Water needs to be able to flow down drains quickly, to cope with prolonged or heavy rainfall. Leaves over drains can clump together into a dense mass, blocking the water flow so that standing water causes problems to your property’s foundations and becomes unsafe to passers-by if it freezes. Also, ensure that downpipes are properly positioned over drains.
  6. Fix drives, patios and manhole covers. As the evenings get darker you want to ensure that loose or broken paving is fixed so it doesn’t become a trip hazard in the dark, or become further damaged by water freezing in unwanted gaps. Manholes covers should also be secure, level and undamaged.
  7. Wrap up exposed pipes. Insulations sleeves should be considered for exposed pipes to help prevent them from damage or bursting during the colder months.
  8. Fix external lights. Where you have dark areas, ensure outside lighting is installed and working, especially around steps, to ensure outside area are safe for people at night and will help prevent injuries.
  9. Check car parks. Checking that surfaces aren’t damaged and draining facilities are clear and can cope with increased wet weather is important to ensure that they are safe for users and won’t cause damage to vehicles.
  10. Have a plan. If you have a large property or commercial building, put together a maintenance plan and update it regularly so that you can keep on top of your maintenance and prevent serious damage to your property or harm to visitors or staff.

Do you need support for your property maintenance responsibilities?

At Drain and Sewer Services we offer a wide range of property services to care for your property, including:

Call us on 01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk today and find out how we can help you get through the autumn and winter months without a drama.