August home maintenance is the second plumbing round of the year, six months after February's. It takes about an hour, follows the August page of your printed calendar, and keeps the service records your warranties may ask for.
C18 - 6 Month Maintenance Checklist
$59.00 AUD
Checklist Type: Minor
Form Factor: Fillable, print-ready PDF (A4, 19 pages) with a maintenance calendar and log
When to use: After handover: your first six months and ongoing home maintenance
A 110-point home maintenance checklist with a calendar and log. Plan preventative maintenance, find small problems early and keep your warranties in good order.
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This month's checks
1Lift the hot water relief valve again
The temperature and pressure relief (PTR) valve lets water out if the tank gets too hot or the pressure gets too high. Lifting it clears dirt from its seat so it can still open when needed.
- Read your hot water unit's manual first and follow it.
- Find the drain end of the valve's pipe so you can see it discharge.
- Stand clear. The water is very hot and can scald.
- Lift the small lever gently, let water run briefly, then lower it gently so it snaps shut.
- Check the drain pipe has stopped running.
No water comes out, the valve keeps dripping or running after you lower the lever, or the lever is stiff.
If it keeps dripping or won't reseat. Call a licensed plumber.
AS/NZS 3500.4 (clause 5.11.3) says a relief valve drain must fall continuously, have no tap or valve in it, and discharge where it's easy to see and can't hurt anyone or damage the building.
2Check the flexible hoses, traps and taps again
A burst flexi hose can flood a kitchen in minutes, and a slow drip under a sink rots the cabinet before you notice.
- Empty each sink and basin cupboard and use a torch.
- Run your hand along each flexi hose. Look for fraying, rust, kinks or bulges.
- Check the fittings and the floor of the cupboard for damp.
- Clean the traps if water drains slowly, as the maker says.
- Fix any dripping tap. Replacing a tap washer is fine. Leave mixer cartridges to a plumber.
Fraying or rusty braid, a bulge, water marks, a swollen cupboard base, or a tap that won't stop dripping.
If any hose shows wear. Turn off its isolation valve if it leaks, then call a licensed plumber. Hand-tightening an accessible fitting is as far as you go.
The QBCC Guide (8.9) treats outlets that don't drain properly from basins, sinks and troughs as defective, unless the owner caused the blockage.
3Service a heat-pump or solar hot water unit
This is the August home maintenance job most tied to warranties. Heat-pump and solar units need regular servicing, and the warranty may need proof that it was done.
- Find the manual and the service schedule.
- From the ground, look at the unit for damage, dirt, mould or condensation inside the cover.
- Keep the area around a heat pump clear so air can flow.
- Book the service the manual asks for, and record it in your log.
Lukewarm water, a fault code, unusual noise, water pooling under the unit, or a missed service date.
If it's due, or there's a fault. A licensed plumber or the maker's service agent should do the work. Solar panels on the roof are for the installer, not you. My guide to choosing a hot water system explains each type.
The QBCC Guide (18.1) makes the owner responsible for arranging warranty service on appliances supplied with the house.
4Test the backflow device, if fitted
A backflow device stops water from irrigation, a tank or a bore flowing back into the mains. If it fails, it can contaminate drinking water.
- Check your handover pack or plumbing plans for a backflow device.
- Look for a test tag, usually near the water meter or the irrigation connection.
- Note the last test date and book the next one.
No tag, an out-of-date tag, or a notice from your council or water authority.
If it's due. Only a licensed plumber with a backflow endorsement can test and tag it.
Under Queensland's Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, owners must register testable backflow devices with council and have them tested at least once a year.
5Check exposed pipes are protected and securely fixed
Loose pipes knock, rub and wear. Unprotected pipes can be damaged by sun, mowers or knocks.
- Walk around the outside, the laundry, the garage and under sinks.
- Look at every visible pipe, hot and cold.
- Check clips and brackets hold it firmly, and lagging or covers are intact.
- Listen for banging when a tap or the washing machine shuts off.
Loose or missing clips, cracked or sun-damaged pipe, damaged lagging, damp around joints, or loud banging (water hammer).
If a pipe is loose, damaged or leaking. Call a licensed plumber.
The QBCC Guide (8.7) treats water hammer as a defect in the first 12 months, unless it's caused by solenoid or ceramic valves in appliances.
6Check the washing machine hoses and clean the filters
Washing machine hoses are under pressure all the time. A leak at the taps can run for hours before you notice.
- Pull the machine out a little, if you can, and look behind it with a torch.
- Check the hoses at the taps and the machine for leaks, kinks and bulges.
- Clean the lint and pump filters as the manual says.
- On a new machine, check the hoses over at least two cycles after it's connected.
Damp at the taps, bulging or cracked hoses, water under the machine, or slow draining.
If a tap or fitting leaks. A licensed plumber can fix it.
Where you live changes the timing
- North (QLD, NT, northern WA and northern NSW). It's the late dry season. Trim trees back from the roof before the storms.
- South (temperate Australia). It's late winter. In bushfire areas, start clearing gutters and vegetation.
The plumbing checks are the same everywhere. August home maintenance just sits beside different seasonal jobs.
Every month, as well
- Test every smoke alarm with the test button.
- Clean the air-con filters while you're using it.
- Check wet areas for mould and run the exhaust fans.
- Walk around: note new cracks, leaks, stains or sticking doors.
- Record what you did in your maintenance log.
The short version
August home maintenance repeats February's plumbing checks and adds servicing. Hot water units and backflow devices often need proof of servicing to keep their warranty, so log every job. The C18 6 Month Maintenance checklist has each item, and why your home needs a maintenance calendar explains the thinking.
Next month: September home maintenance.
FAQs
Is it normal for the relief valve to drip?
Your manual explains what's normal for your unit. If it keeps dripping or won't reseat after you lift it, call a licensed plumber.
Does August home maintenance include a backflow test for everyone?
No, only if a testable device is fitted. Check your handover pack, and look for a tag near the meter or irrigation.
Why does August home maintenance repeat February?
C18 sets these checks every 6 months, so the calendar puts them in February and August.
Can I replace a flexi hose myself?
No. Hand-tighten an accessible fitting if you need to, but replacing hoses is a job for a licensed plumber.
