Huge numbers neglecting vital winter home maintenance, reports AA

Our latest news release:

Disinclination or lack of funds means that just short of half of home owners in Ireland have no plans whatsoever to carryout preventative maintenance on their houses to see them through the winter according to a survey carried out by the AA’s new Home Rescue division during September.

More than 6,500 homeowners in total were surveyed by AA Home Rescue and for many cash flow rather than desire would appear to be the preventative force. 

“Sadly the survey was peppered with comments from homeowners who would like to do more but simply can’t finance even basic jobs this year such as getting their boiler serviced.” Reports Cliona Brennan, Head of AA Home Rescue.  “We heard from one family saving up to get their boiler repaired so that they can get their central heating back up and running.  Another respondent shared that unemployment had left him worrying about heating costs let alone home maintenance jobs.”

The results of the AA Home rescue survey also suggest that women are slower to take a preventative approach to home maintenance than their male counterparts.  Dubliners were also revealed as least likely to give their homes the once over in advance of winter while those living in Westmeath, Laois, Wexford and Donegal were identified as the most likely.

“The trends were seeing are a little bit worrying this year.  It’s all about dealing with molehills before they become mountains.” Says Brennan.  “A lot of the home emergencies we’re called to could have been avoided with a little maintenance.  There’s always huge frustration when someone realizes they could have saved themselves time and expense if they’d spotted that broken roof slate or if they’d taken better care of their boiler.”

 Of those who have already or are planning to do a bit of work the most common jobs were identified as cleaning out the gutters, getting the boiler serviced, bleeding the radiators, checking insulation around piping and cleaning of chimneys.

While encouraging homeowners to run through a winter maintenance check list, the AA Home Rescue Team reminds DIYers to be sensible and take care when scaling ladders and using tools.  The reminder comes following further poll results which revealed that 11% of those polled by AA Home Rescue have at some point injured themselves while doing DIY.  Among some of the injuries cited were falls from ladders leading to cuts, bruisers, pulled muscles, breaks and back complaints.  Bad cuts, stitches and injured fingers also featured heavily from the use of tools such as hammers and stanley knives.  

Cliona Brennan offers the following winter maintenance tips to homeowners:

• Make sure your pipes are properly insulated to avoid  freezing. Outside pipes should be fitted with insulating sleeves if exposed.
• If leaving your home for a length of time this winter – turn off water at the mains and ensure the pipes are drained. You can drain the pipes by letting the water run on all taps and by flushing all toilets.
• Ensure that the attic door is left open. This will help spread the heat throughout the entire house.
• Keep up with your boiler’s servicing schedule.
• Get your chimney cleaned to eliminate the risk of chimney fire
• Bleed all the radiators in your home.
• Check for drafts and caulk up any cracks.  Install door jams if there are gaps at the bottom.
• Wipe condensation off window frames regularly to prevent buildup of mould/damp
• Clean dead leaves/other debris from gutters to avoid rainwater overflowing on to your roof.
• Check roof tiles and slates are secure so you don’t get water damage in the loft/roof space.
• Remove dead/damaged branches which could damage your property during storms.
• Double check that your smoke alarm works.

End

 Notes to the editor;

About AA Home Rescue: At last the AA is driving its roadside rescue expertise home, and we’re now rescuing homes too.  From burst pipes to boiler melt downs – one call to our unique Home Rescue Team will fix home emergencies big and small.  And from just €6.99 a month, with no call out fee, it practically pays for itself.  To read our AA Home Rescue FAQs click here.

Fig. 1 Percentage of respondents who have done/are planning to do maintenance work to prepare their homes for winter this year.  (Based on 6664 responses)

B. Percentage of FEMALE respondents who have done/are planning to do maintenance work to prepare their homes for winter this year (Based on 3,029 responses)

C. Percentage of MALE respondents who have done/are planning to do maintenance work to prepare their homes for winter this year (Based on 3,524 responses)

 D. COUNTY BY COUNTY split of respondents who have done are planning to do at least some maintenance work to prepare their homes for winter.  (Based on 6664 responses)

 Fig. 2 Which of the following activities respondents said they have done/are planning to do in their Home to protect it against winter weather (Based on 4266 resps.)