DUBLIN 15 HOME CARE
Dublin 15 home maintenance calendar
A plain, month-by-month list of the jobs that tend to come round in Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Clonsilla and Carpenterstown. Irish weather is mild and wet, so most of the year is about water, leaves, damp and light.
Nothing here needs special skill: it is the checklist a careful homeowner can work through in an afternoon a season. Dates are a guide, because an early frost or a wet spring moves everything.
January and February
Cold, wet and dark: protect the house from damp and frost.
- Walk the house after each storm and look for water stains on ceilings, which can be the first sign of a slipped slate or blocked downpipe.
- Wipe condensation off windows each morning and open a window for ten minutes; trapped moisture is what grows black mould on window frames and in corners.
- Check the attic insulation is even and not pushed away from the eaves, and that vents are not blocked.
- Lag or drain outside taps and exposed pipes before a hard frost, and know where your stopcock is.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace the batteries if they chirp.
March and April
The first dry spells: wash off the winter and tidy the outside.
- Clear winter leaves and moss from gutters and check downpipes run freely; a few minutes with a hose shows where water backs up.
- Look at the roof from the ground for slipped or cracked slates and loose ridge tiles, and have anything doubtful looked at before the next storm season.
- Give patios, paths and decking a scrub or a wash once they have dried out, before algae makes them slippery.
- Start the first lawn cuts on a high setting and edge the borders.
- Wasp queens come out of hibernation in spring and look for a place to build. Check sheds, eaves and attics for small starter nests, and seal gaps and holes now.
May and June
Long evenings: windows, paint and the garden.
- Clean the windows and frames inside and out and check the seals for gaps or condensation between the panes.
- Look for peeling paint on fascias, window sills and exterior walls and touch it up in dry weather.
- Look carefully for nesting birds before trimming hedges: birds nest from March to August, and an active nest means you wait.
- Wipe down the barbecue and check the gas connection for leaks with soapy water before the first big dinner.
- Check garden fences, gates and sheds for rot at ground level.
July and August
Warm weather: wasps, bins and outdoor living.
- Wasp numbers peak in late summer. Keep bins closed, clear up fallen fruit and sugary spills, and keep away from any nest you find; do not block the entrance or knock it down.
- Wash the bins inside and out during hot weather to keep flies and smells away.
- Check that outdoor furniture, trampolines and swing sets are still stable and the fixings tight.
- Water new plants early in the morning, and cut the lawn a little higher in dry spells.
- Use the long light for exterior painting and fence treatment.
September and October
The most important season for the house: get ready before the leaves and the storms.
- Clear the gutters after the first leaf fall and again a few weeks later, and make sure the downpipes drain freely, before the heavy rain.
- Rake leaves off lawns and paths: left in place they kill the grass, block drains and make paths slippery.
- Check the roof, chimney and flashings again after the summer and trim back branches that overhang the house.
- Drain outside taps, bring in cushions and light garden furniture and secure the rest for the wind.
- Look for draughts around doors and windows on a windy day, and fit seals to the worst gaps.
- If you use a chimney or stove, have it swept before the first fire of the season.
November and December
Short days: keep warm, dry and safe.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when the clocks go back, and make this a yearly habit.
- Open windows briefly each day even when it is cold to let damp air out, and keep furniture a few centimetres off external walls.
- A small bit of preparation helps on darker evenings: keep a torch where you can find it and charge your phone before a windy night.
- Clear leaves from drains and gullies again after the last of the leaf fall.
- Check the lagging on the hot-water cylinder and pipes in the attic before the coldest weeks.
For anything you would rather not do yourself, call or text Dublin 15 Services with the job and your area to check current availability.
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