Autumn home maintenance checklist for NZ homes
Autumn is your last good window before winter. The weather's still dry enough for outdoor jobs, sweeps and heating technicians aren't yet flat out, and anything you fix now won't let the cold or wet in later.
The "If something happens to me" checklist
A printable checklist of everything your family would need: insurance, KiwiSaver, vehicles, pets, your will and who to call.
1. Heating and fires
Get these booked early. Everyone else remembers on the first cold night.
Get the chimney or wood burner flue swept
Regional councils recommend sweeping once a year, before you start using the fire. Soot and creosote build-up makes the fire burn less efficiently and is the main cause of chimney fires. Signs it's overdue: visible soot build-up, or smoke coming back into the room when you open the door.
Some insurers also expect solid fuel burners to be maintained — check your policy.
Make sure your firewood is dry enough
Councils recommend burning only wood with 25% moisture content or less, and in some regions — including Nelson and Southland — burning wetter wood breaks the regional air rules. Wet wood smokes, gives less heat and coats the flue in creosote. A cheap moisture meter settles it; dry wood also makes a sharp crack when two pieces are knocked together.
Store firewood off the ground, covered on top, with air moving around it. Buying green wood for next winter now is cheaper and gives it time to season.
Clean the heat pump filters before winter
Vacuum or rinse the filters and let them dry fully before refitting. If your heat pump didn't get its yearly service in spring, autumn is the next best time — book it before the winter rush.
2. Safety checks
Winter means more heaters, candles and fires — so more fire risk.
Test smoke alarms when the clocks go back
Daylight saving ends on the first Sunday in April. Fire and Emergency New Zealand uses it as the reminder to press the test button on every alarm, vacuum them, and check expiry dates. Replace any alarm past its date — or still on a 9-volt battery — with a long-life photoelectric alarm.
Check portable heaters and electric blankets
Before they come out of storage, look for frayed cords, scorch marks and loose plugs. Keep heaters a metre away from curtains, bedding and furniture. Electric blankets with worn or creased wiring should be replaced, not repaired.
3. Outside the house
Fix it now while it's dry, rather than in a June southerly.
Clear the gutters after the leaves fall
Autumn leaves are the main reason gutters overflow in winter. Clear them once the trees near the house have dropped most of their leaves, and run a hose down each downpipe. Gutter guards can help if you have big trees nearby.
Check the roof before winter storms
From the ground, look for loose or missing tiles, lifted iron, and flashings that have pulled away around chimneys and vents. Get a roofer to fix anything now — after the first big storm, everyone else will be calling too.
Winterise the irrigation and outdoor taps
Turn off and drain the irrigation system once you stop needing it, and switch the controller off or to rain mode. In frost-prone areas, drain hoses and protect exposed outdoor pipes and taps so they don't split when water freezes inside them.
Store or cover outdoor furniture
Clean and dry outdoor furniture and cushions before putting them away, or cover them. Winter damp and mould ruins cushions stored wet, and covered timber lasts much longer.
4. Warm and dry inside
A dry house is easier and cheaper to heat — and healthier.
Find and fix draughts
On a windy day, run your hand around doors, windows, skirting boards and the loft hatch. Self-adhesive seals, door snakes and a strip under external doors are cheap and make a noticeable difference. Don't block intentional vents — rooms with fires and gas heaters need fresh air.
Check curtains and extractor fans
Thick, lined curtains that reach the floor keep a surprising amount of heat in. Check bathroom and kitchen extractor fans still pull air well — you'll rely on them all winter to stop condensation and mould.
5. Admin and paperwork
Ten minutes now can save a lot of stress if winter weather does damage.
Review your home and contents insurance
Check your sum insured still reflects what it would cost to rebuild today, and that your contents cover includes anything new you've bought. Note the excess, the claims number, and where your policy documents are — you'll want them quickly after a storm.
Check the car is ready for winter
Check tyre tread and pressure, wipers, lights and coolant. If you'll be driving on alpine roads, find out whether you'll need chains and practise fitting them before you need to.
Let HomeTrack remember all this for you
HomeTrack suggests seasonal jobs like the flue sweep and heat pump filters, reminds you when your insurance renews, and keeps your policy details somewhere you can find them after a storm.
Start your 30-day free trial → No credit card required · Made in New ZealandCommon questions
How often should I get my chimney swept in NZ?
Regional councils recommend having your chimney or wood burner flue swept once a year, ideally before winter. Soot and creosote build-up reduces efficiency and can cause chimney fires.
How dry does firewood need to be in NZ?
Councils recommend burning only wood with a moisture content of 25% or less, and several regions — including Nelson and Southland — make burning wetter wood an offence. A moisture meter from a hardware store will tell you.
When does daylight saving end in New Zealand?
Daylight saving ends on the first Sunday in April, when clocks go back an hour. Fire and Emergency NZ uses it as a reminder to test your smoke alarms.