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Check appliances
Looking after electrical goods will save you money in the long term. “Regular, small tasks keep appliances working efficiently and help you avoid early replacements,” says Paula Higgins, the founder of the HomeOwners Alliance.
Limescale can build up and be a problem on items that come in contact with water, such as kettles, washing machines and boilers.
“Descale kettles regularly to keep them running efficiently and lasting longer,” Higgins says. You can do this using baking soda, lemon juice or a white vinegar solution. Morphy Richards has a guide on how to tackle this jobon its website. Alternatively, you can use a product such as Waitrose’s Essential Liquid Appliance Descaler, which costs £2.50. This is also useful for cleaning shower heads with certain finishes such as nickel, gold or brass.
You can buy a limescale catcher that can be used to prevent buildup in water tanks and electrical water boilers for about £10. For kettles, Dunelm has a limescale collector for £1.50.
You can extend the life of your tumble dryer by removing lint from the filters after every use – pull out bits by hand or give it a wipe with a cloth. Hotpoint recommends giving the filter and its housing a deep clean every few months. You can do this by unplugging your unit and vacuuming the filter. If you don’t have a thin enough nozzle for your vacuum cleaner, you can buy a lint cleaning extension kit for £7.99 on Amazon.
Regularly top up salt and rinse aid in the dishwasher. This optimises the conditions for your dishes to be cleaned and looks after the machine. Tesco sells a 3kg bag of dishwasher salt for £3.75, and a bottle of rinse and shine aid for £4.
Most newer freezers are “frost-free” and do not require defrosting. If yours is not, it is recommended that you defrost it once a year. Otherwise ice can build up on the walls, forcing the appliance to work harder.
According to the retailer AO, the best way to do this is to unplug and empty your freezer, then lay towels down to catch any ice and water, placing bowls of hot water inside to help the ice melt faster. Then give the inside a wipe using washing-up liquid or white vinegar to help keep it smelling clean.
Maintain drains
The plumbing company BlockBusters recommends you pour a kettle of boiling water down your kitchen and bathroom drains every week. This can cut through any grease and oil that is stuck.
If your drain is particularly clogged, you can buy a specialist cleaner. A one-litre bottle of Mr Muscle Sink & Drain Unblocker Gel costs £6.20 from Waitrose.
Investing in small items, such as drain strainers and coil drain cleaners, can help you avoid blockages, says Teresa Paul, the director of sustainability category development at the DIY chain Wickes.
Sink and bath strainers are designed for catching debris such as food scraps, hair and soap scum before they can enter the plumbing. Wickes sell them for £1.80, or you can pick one up from B&Q for £1.55.
Wickes also sells a 1.8-metre coil drain cleaner for £9, which can access and clear clogs further down the drain. Alternatively, Screwfix sells a 7.6-metre flexible rod for £16.99.
To get rid of smells, mix two tablespoons of baking soda into one cup of white vinegar and pour it down your drain straight away.
Inspect your roof and gutters
“You don’t need scaffolding to spot trouble,” says Higgins, who recommends using binoculars to inspect your roof. Look out for cracked tiles, moss growth, sagging sections and stone debris falling into the gutters.
Replacing a few tiles or repairing flashing costs significantly less than a full reroofing, so it is best to stay on top of any work. “A relatively inexpensive roof repair can prevent far more costly internal water damage,” Higgins says.
Checking the loft every few months, especially after heavy rain, helps you spot signs of leaks or poor airflow before they become big issues.
Blocked gutters cause rainwater to spill down external walls, leading to damp, mould and even structural issues. “Cleaning them twice a year can save money in the long term,” Higgins says. Gutter brushes are an easy-to-install, low-maintenance fix that act as a buffer to keep gutters clear while letting water flow. Wickes sells a four-metre roll for £24 each, while Screwfix sells a three-pack of four-metre rolls for £79.99.
If you are going to hire someone to do some cleaning or maintenance work on your gutters, Higgins recommends you do your research. “Tradespeople are often unregulated, so use neighbourhood WhatsApp and Facebook groups to find someone trustworthy,” she says.
Some insurance companies won’t accept gutter damage claims if they were found to be dirty and malfunctioning, according to Nathan Blackler, a home insurance expert from the comparison website GoCompare. “All home maintenance tasks are the responsibility of the homeowner and should be done, and most home insurance plans state this as a clause,” he says.
Check your boiler
Keeping your boiler regularly serviced – ideally once a year – should extend its life and prevent the need for emergency callouts. “A boiler breakdown in winter is both a financial and a practical nightmare,” Higgins says.
According to the consumer group Which?, a standard boiler service costs between £70 and £110. In comparison, a new boiler costs anywhere between £1,200 and £2,000, according to Checkatrade. This is the cost of the boiler alone, and the cost on installation could be at least the same again.
Test smoke and CO alarms
You should test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month, says Fire England. Aside from the risk of injury and expensive damage, insurance companies will not cover fire-related damage otherwise.
“If your fire alarm is broken, hasn’t had the necessary maintenance, or there are faulty wires that haven’t been replaced, your accident could be excluded from your fire insurance policy, but this depends on your individual insurer,” says Matthew Harwood, a home insurance expert from the comparison website Confused.com. “Many home insurance policies require proof of regular alarm maintenance to validate claims related to fire, theft or damage. Failure to provide this proof could result in a denied claim, leaving the homeowner financially vulnerable.”
Test your device by pressing the button until the alarm sounds. If there is no sound, you need to replace the battery. If an alarm has a constant beeping, it is a sign to change the battery immediately.
Keep a ‘just in case’ fund
“Protect yourself against the cost of unexpected repairs like broken fences or your heating packing up by putting money aside in a regular savings account each month,” says Sue Hayward, a consumer commentator. “This way, you’ll build a small slush fund, and earn some interest, to help cushion the cost and save your bank balance from taking a battering or tipping you into the red.”
It is recommended that homeowners budget for about 1-2% of their property’s total value each year for maintenance costs, according to Checkatrade. As of September 2025, the average house price in the UK is £271,531 – so if your property is worth that much, you should think about keeping aside at least £2,715 annually. However, keep in mind that older properties often require more maintenance, and therefore more money – the community marketplace platform Airtasker recommends saving 3-4% of your property’s worth if it is more than 20 years old.
