What home jobs should you do in March?

March home maintenance: the checklist

The home jobs to do in March are the ones that prepare you for hot afternoons and thunderstorms: the aircon, the windows, mosquitoes and the cords and plugs you use every day. Most take a few minutes and need no tools. Aircon servicing is the one job to hand to a company, so arrange it first.

• Service the aircon. Have it serviced before the hot months, and use the aircon servicing checklist to plan the visit.
• Clean the filters monthly. Switch the unit off, then check and clean the filters once a month between servicings.
• Check every window. Make sure each one opens, closes and locks smoothly, with nothing loose or worn.
• Do the Mozzie Wipeout weekly. Clear stagnant water around the home at least once a week.
• Check cords and plugs. Look for cracked insulation, loose plugs and scorch or heat marks.
• Set the aircon at 25 degrees C. Use the timer too, so the unit switches off before you wake.
• Check the floor traps. Clear hair and debris so water drains away quickly from bathrooms, kitchens and service yards.

If you rent, ask your landlord who arranges aircon servicing and window repairs before you book anything. The sections below explain why each job matters now and what to look for.

Why March: the weather

March sits at a turning point in Singapore's weather. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) explains that the Northeast Monsoon runs from December to early March, and that its dry phase, usually from late January to early March, is windy and relatively dry, with February the driest month. The first inter-monsoon period follows from late March to May. It brings light and variable winds and thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening, at times severe. Hot afternoons are common too.

Use the list above as your inter-monsoon home checklist: get the window checks done while it is drier and the aircon serviced before the hot afternoons, then keep up the weekly habits, such as clearing stagnant water, through the stormier months.

Windows before the storms

Afternoon thunderstorms are a good reason to look at your windows now, while early March is usually drier. HDB's home care guide advises checking your windows once every 6 months to make sure they work smoothly and have no loose or worn-out parts. HDB warns that windows that deteriorate can fall and cause serious injury to passers-by.

A quick check takes a few minutes per room:

• Open and close each window fully, and note any that stick, drag or rattle.
• Check that every handle and lock holds the window firmly shut.
• Look at the hinges, stays and other fittings for anything loose, bent or worn.

Lock your windows before you go out on stormy afternoons, and close any that you cannot keep an eye on. If a window is loose, hard to close or will not lock, stop using it and get it repaired rather than forcing it shut. For a fuller walk-through, see our window safety checks guide.

Cooling and power

With hot afternoons ahead, you are likely to use the aircon more. The energy-saving tips from the National Environment Agency (NEA) cover the basics: set the aircon at 25 degrees C, set the timer to switch it off half an hour before you wake, check the aircon filter once a month, and close curtains or blinds during the hottest part of the day. NEA also suggests switching appliances off at the socket instead of leaving them on standby.

The power side is just as simple. Look over the extension cords, adaptors and chargers you use every day. Replace any cord with cracked insulation, exposed wires or a loose plug instead of taping it up, and do not plug one extension cord into another. If a socket looks discoloured or scorched, stop using it and have a Licensed Electrician check it. For more ways to lower fire risk at home, see the home fire safety checklist.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito checks belong in any pre-summer home prep. NEA's Stop Dengue Now page explains that Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water, and that water as small as a 20-cent coin is enough. NEA asks households to do the Mozzie Wipeout at least once a week, and it carries out dengue inspections of homes.

With afternoon storms on the way, add a quick round after heavy rain as well. Tip out water from pot plates, vases, pails and anything left outdoors, and keep containers covered or turned over so they cannot collect rain. For a fuller routine, see how to prevent mosquito breeding at home.

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