Congratulations on buying your first home. Now here's the thing nobody told you: houses need looking after. Regular maintenance prevents expensive repairs.
Here's your crash course in keeping your home healthy.
First Week: Find These Things
Before anything goes wrong, locate:
1. Stopcock (Main Water Shut-Off)
If a pipe bursts, you need to turn this off fast.
Where it is:
- Usually under the kitchen sink
- Sometimes in a downstairs cupboard
- Or outside under a small metal cover
What it looks like: A tap or valve on a pipe. Turn clockwise to close.
Do now: Find it and check it actually turns.
2. Consumer Unit (Fuse Box)
This controls all the electricity.
Where it is:
- Usually hallway, under stairs, or garage
- Modern units have switches; old ones have fuses
What to know:
- Main switch turns everything off
- Individual switches control circuits (lighting, sockets, etc.)
- If something trips, check what you plugged in before resetting
3. Gas Meter and Emergency Shut-Off
Where it is:
- Usually outside in a meter box
- Or in a cupboard by the front door
What to know:
- There's an emergency valve on the meter - lever turns to shut off
- If you smell gas: turn off, open windows, don't use switches, call gas emergency line
4. Boiler
Get to know your heating system.
Read the manual for:
- How to turn it on/off
- How to adjust temperature
- How to repressurise (if it drops)
- When it was last serviced
5. Water Tank and Immersion (If You Have Them)
Older properties may have a hot water tank.
Find out:
- Where it is (usually airing cupboard)
- If there's an immersion heater (electric backup)
- Where the tank thermostat is
Monthly Quick Checks
Takes 10 minutes, prevents problems.
Check:
- Smoke alarms work (press test button)
- CO alarm works (if you have gas)
- Visible pipes for leaks
- Under sinks for drips
- Extractor fans running properly
- Drains flowing freely
Seasonal Maintenance
Spring
- Check roof from ground (missing tiles?)
- Clean gutters
- Test outdoor taps
- Service lawn mower
- Check window seals
Summer
- Treat wooden fences/decking
- Check pointing and render
- Service any AC units
- Clear weeds from paving joints
Autumn
- Clean gutters again (leaves!)
- Bleed radiators
- Book boiler service
- Check draught proofing
- Lag exposed pipes
Winter
- Keep heating on (frost protection)
- Clear leaves from drains
- Check for ice dams on roof
- Know where stopcock is (frozen pipes)
Things That Need Annual Servicing
Boiler Service
Why: Safety (especially gas), efficiency, warranty requirements
When: Before winter
Cost: £60-£100
Who: Gas Safe registered engineer
Chimney Sweep (If You Have Open Fires/Wood Burners)
Why: Fire safety, efficiency, carbon monoxide risk
When: Before using after summer
Cost: £50-£80
Who: HETAS registered sweep
Gutter Clear
Why: Blocked gutters cause damp problems
When: Spring and autumn
Cost: DIY or £50-£100 professionally
Tools Every Homeowner Needs
Basic kit:
- Screwdriver set (flat and Phillips)
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Adjustable spanner
- Pliers
- Stanley knife
- Torch
- Spirit level
- Cordless drill (see our drill buying guide)
- Rawlplugs and screws assortment
For plumbing emergencies:
- Plunger
- Bucket
- PTFE tape
- Spare tap washers
Cost: About £100-£150 for a decent starter kit
Common First-Timer Mistakes
1. Ignoring Small Problems
That small damp patch won't fix itself. Small leaks become big leaks. Fix things early.
2. Not Knowing What's "Normal"
- Boilers make some noise (normal)
- Radiators need bleeding (normal)
- Doors stick seasonally (normal in old houses)
- Cracks in plaster (often cosmetic)
3. Over-DIYing
Know your limits. Bodged DIY often costs more to fix than hiring someone properly.
4. Underspending on Maintenance
A £200 gutter repair now prevents a £2,000 damp repair later.
5. Not Building Up a Maintenance Fund
Put aside £100-£200 monthly for house stuff. You'll need it.
When to DIY vs Call Someone
DIY (If Competent)
- Changing tap washers
- Bleeding radiators
- Hanging pictures and shelves
- Basic decorating
- Clearing blocked drains
- Changing light bulbs and fuses
- Fitting draught excluders
- Basic garden maintenance
Call a Professional
- Gas work (legally required)
- Most electrical work (certification needed)
- Roof repairs
- Structural changes
- Damp investigation
- Anything you're not confident about
Building a List of Trusted Trades
You'll need:
- Plumber (for when it's beyond basics)
- Electrician (for anything notifiable)
- Gas engineer (for boiler servicing)
- Handyman (for everything else)
How to find good ones:
- Ask neighbours
- Checkatrade/MyBuilder (read actual reviews)
- Facebook local groups
- Don't just pick the cheapest
Final Tips
- Keep records - Boiler service certificates, EICR, receipts for work done
- Build an emergency fund - Boilers break at Christmas, pipes freeze in January
- Learn your house - Every home has quirks; learn what's normal for yours
- Prevention over cure - Maintenance is cheaper than repair
Need a hand getting started? I help first-time homeowners with maintenance all the time. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.
Sam Hembury
Sam is the founder of Hembury Contracting, providing professional handyman services across Exeter and Devon. With years of experience in property maintenance, he shares practical tips to help homeowners tackle common tasks.
