What should I check at home in July?

Storms and squalls

The southwest monsoon often follows a familiar pattern. After a still, humid night, a line of storms comes through before dawn or early in the morning, with strong gusts and heavy rain. The gusts, more than the rain, find the weak spots in a home.

Pick a dry afternoon and go from window to window. Casement windows should latch firmly. Rubber seals should be soft and unbroken, not cracked or pulling away from the frame. Brush grit out of sliding window tracks so water can drain. On a landed home, scoop leaves from the gutters and check that downpipes run freely, because a choked gutter spills down the wall in a squall. If you have a balcony or planter ledge, move light chairs and pots away from the edge. Our guide to monsoon season home care has more.

PUB's flood safety tips ask homeowners to keep drains and drainage systems within their compound well maintained and choke-free, and to keep flood barriers in good working condition. This matters most for ground-floor units and landed homes. You can follow PUB flood alerts on its Telegram channel or the myENV app.

Haze preparation home

In some years, smoke haze drifts over Singapore during the southwest monsoon. You cannot control when it arrives, but you can agree on a household plan in advance.

NEA uses the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) to show how severe smoke haze is, and a PSI of 101 and above is unhealthy. The main pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter, PM2.5. It enters air-conditioned buildings through the fresh air intake and through openings and gaps, so indoor levels can build up. The window seals you checked for squalls do double duty here. NEA also advises reducing outdoor activity and exertion. Anyone unwell, especially the elderly, children and people with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention. Check NEA's advisories based on PSI or PM2.5 readings.

A simple plan: choose one room to keep closed up, note who at home needs extra care, and check that you have spare filters if you own an air purifier. Read how to run your aircon during haze before you need it.

Mosquito checks

Squalls refill every small container left in the open. NEA's dengue prevention advice says to remove water from plant pot plates and change the water in vases every other day, scrubbing the insides. It also warns against placing trays or containers beneath or above an aircon unit, as they can let mosquitoes breed. If you need a tray, use HDB's patented air-conditioner tray and check that its drain point does not choke and hold water.

Then widen the search: a pail in the service yard, a dish rack tray, the saucer under a balcony bonsai, a roof gutter on a terrace house. Tip them out and store them dry or upside down. Our guide on how to prevent mosquito breeding goes room by room.

Aircon in the hot months

With steady heat and children home for the school holidays, bedroom units often run through the night, and dust builds up faster. NEA's energy saving tips say to check the air-conditioner air filter once a month and clean or replace it when necessary, so that it will run efficiently. On most wall-mounted units, the filters slide out from under the front panel. If this is new to you, learn how to clean the aircon filter.

Some signs call for a proper service instead: water dripping indoors, weak airflow after a filter clean, a musty smell or a unit that keeps cycling on and off. Servicing intervals depend on the maker and how hard the unit works, so follow the manual or ask your aircon company. Quotes vary with the number of units and what the job covers.

Before a holiday trip

Many families travel during the school holidays, and an empty flat in squall season needs a little preparation. Before you lock up:

• Switch off and unplug what you will not need, such as the water heater, TV, computer and chargers. Leave the fridge on, and finish the fresh food first.
• Close the main water valve so a burst hose cannot run for days.
• Turn off the gas at the cooker valve or cylinder.
• Shut and latch every window, because a morning squall can drive rain through a small gap.
• Empty vases and plant plates so nothing breeds while you are away.

For longer trips, ask a neighbour or relative to look in. See what to do before an overseas trip for the full routine.

Southwest monsoon home: your July home maintenance checklist

• Latch windows and check the seals and sliding tracks.
• Clear gutters, downpipes and balcony drains.
• Pick a haze room and watch PSI readings.
• Empty plant pot plates and vase water every other day.
• Check aircon filters monthly, and book a service if a unit drips or smells.
• Before a trip, switch off, close the water valve and turn off the gas.

Missed something earlier? The June home checklist covers the start of the monsoon, and much of it still applies.

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