Spring home maintenance checklist for NZ homes
Winter is hard on a Kiwi house. Spring is the window to catch the damage, get ahead of summer, and book tradies before they're flat out. Here's what to check, why it matters, and which jobs you can safely do yourself.
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 cooling
Your heat pump has just done its hardest months of the year. Give it some attention before you switch it to cooling.
Book a heat pump service before summer
Most manufacturers recommend a professional service once a year. A technician cleans the indoor and outdoor coils, checks refrigerant and drainage, and catches small faults before they become expensive. Expect to pay roughly $100–$200 for a single unit, depending on where you live, with a discount for extra units on the same visit.
Spring is a smart time to book: the winter rush is over and the summer one hasn't started.
Clean the heat pump filters yourself
Between services, pop the front panel open, slide out the filters, vacuum or rinse them, and let them dry fully before refitting. Clogged filters make the unit work harder and push dust back into the room. Your manual will show the exact steps.
2. Safety checks
Ten minutes on these could genuinely save a life.
Test and clean your smoke alarms
Press the test button on every alarm (a broom handle works if you can't reach), then vacuum around each one so dust doesn't cause false alarms. Check the expiry date on the side or base — alarms last around ten years. If there's no date, or it's still running on a 9-volt battery, replace it with a long-life photoelectric alarm, which is what Fire and Emergency New Zealand recommends.
Missed doing this when the clocks went forward? Do it now, then make it a monthly habit.
Check the BBQ gas bottle's test date
Before the first barbecue of the season, look for the test date stamped on the bottle's neck or collar. LPG bottles are valid for 10 years from that date, and an out-of-date bottle can't legally be refilled — swap it at an exchange station instead.
While you're there, check the hose for cracks and brush soapy water over the connections with the gas on. Bubbles mean a leak: turn it off and replace the part.
Check fire season rules before you burn anything
Rural and lifestyle properties often clear winter prunings in spring. Fire season status varies by area and can change quickly as things dry out, so check checkitsalright.nz before lighting any outdoor fire.
3. Roof, gutters and exterior
Winter storms do damage you won't see from inside — until the first big summer downpour finds it.
Clear the gutters and downpipes
Leaves and moss from winter block gutters, and water that overflows can work its way into walls and soffits. Clear them out and run a hose down each downpipe to make sure it drains freely.
Look over the roof for storm damage
From the ground (binoculars help), look for lifted or missing tiles, loose flashings around chimneys and vents, and rust spots on iron roofs. Small fixes now are far cheaper than water damage later — and an insurer may question a claim for a slow leak that was visible for months.
Wash the house exterior
Damp winters leave mould, lichen and grime on cladding, especially on the shady sides. A gentle house wash protects the paint and makes it easier to spot damage. Avoid blasting weatherboards with a high-pressure washer, which can force water behind them — a low-pressure wash with a suitable cleaner is safer.
4. Garden and outdoor living
Get the outdoor spaces ready before you want to use them.
Clean and check the deck
Give it a scrub to remove winter slime (it gets slippery), then walk it looking for soft or cracked boards and nails that have lifted. Re-oil or stain during a dry spell — the timber needs a few dry days before and after.
Start up the irrigation system
Run each zone and walk the lines. Look for blocked or broken sprinkler heads, leaks at joints, and spray hitting paths or walls. Replace the controller battery and adjust the schedule for warmer weather.
Watch for wasp nests early
Queen wasps start building nests in spring. A golf-ball-sized nest under the eaves or in a shed is easy to deal with now; by late summer it can hold thousands of wasps. Leave large nests and in-ground nests to a pest controller.
Check the pool or spa barrier
Make sure gates self-close and self-latch from any open position, and that nothing climbable — chairs, pot plants, the BBQ — has ended up against the fence over winter. Councils inspect residential pool barriers every three years, but the rules apply every day.
5. Inside the house
Air the place out and deal with what winter left behind.
Deal with mould and check ventilation
Check window frames, wardrobes, behind furniture against outside walls, and bathroom ceilings. Clean mould with a suitable cleaner and fix the cause: make sure bathroom and kitchen extractor fans actually pull air (hold a sheet of toilet paper up to them) and vent outside rather than into the roof space.
Clean the dryer lint and vent
Dryers work overtime in winter. Lint build-up behind the filter and in the vent hose is a fire risk, and it makes the dryer slower and more expensive to run. Clear the filter every load, and vacuum out the housing and hose once a season.
6. Family and summer prep
New Zealand's UV levels climb fast from spring, well before it feels hot.
Restock sun protection
Check the expiry dates on last year's sunscreen (it loses strength over time), find the hats, and replace anything outgrown. If you have kids, put sunscreen in school bags now rather than in December.
Let HomeTrack remember all this for you
HomeTrack suggests seasonal jobs like these based on your hemisphere and home, turns them into reminders, and emails you a weekly summary of what's coming up — so next spring, you don't need a checklist.
Start your 30-day free trial → No credit card required · Made in New ZealandCommon questions
When is spring in New Zealand?
Spring runs from September to November. October is a good month for most spring maintenance — the weather is drier, but tradespeople aren't yet booked out for summer.
How often should a heat pump be serviced in NZ?
Most manufacturers and installers recommend a professional heat pump service once a year. Clean the filters yourself every few weeks during heavy use.
How long is a BBQ gas bottle valid for?
LPG cylinders carry a test date stamped on the neck or collar, and are valid for 10 years from that date. An out-of-date bottle can't legally be refilled — swap it or have it retested.
How often should I test my smoke alarms?
Fire and Emergency New Zealand recommends pressing the test button monthly, vacuuming alarms to keep dust out, and replacing any alarm past its expiry date with a long-life photoelectric model.