According to the weather: Why should home maintenance be seasonal?
Taipei’s climate is very unique: plum rain in spring, intense heat and afternoon thunderstorms in summer, typhoons in autumn, and northeast monsoon and cold and humid winter. Different weather will cause different pressures on various parts of the house. Carrying out key maintenance according to the rhythm of the seasons is like doing a seasonal health check for the house. It can prevent the most troublesome problems from happening with the minimum effort.
This is not to increase your household burden, but to break down huge maintenance projects into small things that can be done easily. In the long run, it will save astonishing time, money and mental loss.
Spring (March-May): The key battle against moisture and mold
When the weather begins to warm up, continuous spring rains and the upcoming rainy season make "moisture prevention and dehumidification" the top priority.
- Core task: Check the waterproofing of exterior walls and windows
Before the peak of the rainy season, carefully check whether the tiles on the exterior wall of the building are cracked or peeling, and whether there are any aging cracks in the silicone at the joints between the window frame and the wall. These are shortcuts for rainwater to seep in, and problems should be filled as soon as they are discovered. - Key maintenance: dehumidifier and cleaning preparation
Clean the filter of the dehumidifier that has been idle for a winter, and perform a test run to confirm that the function is normal. Check whether there are mold spots in dark corners such as cabinets and behind sofas. You can use diluted bleach or mildew remover to clean them. - Ensure smooth drainage: Clean the ground drainage hole covers on balconies and terraces to ensure that fallen leaves and sediment do not accumulate, and to avoid water backflow during heavy rains.
Summer (June-August): Fight against high temperatures and peak electricity consumption
Scorching heat and frequent thunderstorms test the safety of heat dissipation and electricity consumption.
- Core mission: deep cleaning and overhaul of air conditioning system
This is the most important investment in summer! Ask a professional to clean the evaporator and blower of the air-conditioning indoor unit, as well as the radiating fins of the outdoor unit. This not only improves the efficiency of the cooling room and saves electricity by up to 20%, but also effectively removes odors and allergens to prevent "air-conditioning sickness". - Key maintenance: General inspection of electrical safety
Check whether the extension cord in your home is old and overloaded (the same extension cord is filled with high-power appliances). Observe the switch box for abnormal heating or increased tripping frequency. This may be a warning sign of circuit aging. - Preparation for typhoon prevention: Check whether the window screens and awnings are secure, and clean the drainage outlet on the roof. Prepare emergency supplies such as flashlights and power banks.
Autumn (September-November): The golden period for repair and preparation for winter
The heat is receding and the typhoon season is coming to an end, which is the best time to deal with summer damage and prepare for winter.
- Core tasks: water heater and gas pipeline inspection
Winter is the peak usage of water heaters. In autumn, you should check whether the exhaust pipe of the gas water heater is rusted and peeled off, and whether the flame is stable blue. You can also consider making an appointment with a master for an annual safety inspection to ensure that there is no risk of carbon monoxide leakage. - Key Maintenance: Repairing Summer Damage
Treat damage caused by sun exposure or typhoons in summer, such as peeling wall paint and loose outdoor facilities. Check the roof waterproofing layer for damage. - Check the air tightness of doors and windows: Feel whether there is wind pouring into the gaps between doors and windows. You may consider installing or replacing airtight strips to prepare for warmth and energy saving in winter.
Winter (December-February): Pay attention to warmth preservation and indoor air quality
The northeast monsoon brings humidity and cold, and people stay in airtight indoors for a long time.
- Core mission: Keep dry and ventilated
Even if it is cold, windows should be opened briefly every day for convection to avoid condensation and wall cancer caused by excessive indoor humidity. After using the bathroom, be sure to turn on the heater or exhaust fan for at least 30 minutes to completely remove moisture. - Key maintenance: safe use of electric heaters
It is safer to use blade or ceramic electric heaters. Always stay away from curtains, bedding, and never cover or bake clothing on electric heaters. Avoid using traditional electric heating tube (quartz tube) heaters that consume oxygen and can easily cause fires. - Check water pipes to prevent freezing (rare but need to know): Although Taipei flatland rarely experiences subzero temperatures, if there is an extreme cold wave, for exposed water pipes on the rooftop or outdoors, the faucets can maintain a slight flow of water at night to prevent freezing in the pipes from expanding and causing rupture.
Create your own personalized maintenance list
Print this schedule and post it on the family bulletin board or add it to your mobile calendar. You can adjust the key items based on the age of your house, whether it has a roof, whether it is located on a humid site, etc.
For example, a new building within ten years may focus on equipment maintenance; for an old building over thirty years old, more attention should be paid to exterior walls and pipelines. Remember, thebest fix is to prevent the problem from happening. Spending a weekend afternoon performing a season of focused maintenance is far better than spending tens or hundreds of thousands in the future to rescue a serious water leak or wire fire. This timetable is the wise way for you and your house to live in harmony and stay together for a long time.
New knowledge on air-conditioning power consumption and Taiwan climate maintenance regulations in recent years (2025-2026 current situation)
With the high temperatures in summer breaking historical records and the adjustment of electricity price structure in recent years, the latest statistics from the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs show that air-conditioning equipment accounts for more than 47% of residential electricity consumption in summer. Many people mistakenly believe that if the air conditioner is not cold, they only need to "replenish the refrigerant." However, in fact, refrigerant is not naturally consumed during normal operation in a closed circuit. If the refrigerant is insufficient, it means that there are micro leaks in the copper pipes or joints. Simply replenishing the air conditioner will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Refrigerant leakage will aggravate the high temperature overload of the compressor and shorten its service life.
According to Taiwan's standard operating specifications for air-conditioning projects, it is recommended that professional technicians with a refrigeration and air-conditioning decoration technician license perform "full machine high-pressure water washing and evaporator deep sterilization" every 1 to 2 years for detached air-conditioning indoor units. Especially in the humid summer in the Shuangbei Basin, the air drum and water collection tray are easy to breed black mold and jelly-like biofilm. This is also the main reason for the sour smell in the air-conditioning outlet and the backflow of the drainage pipe. Regular maintenance can maintain CSPF (Air Conditioning Seasonal Performance Factor) level one energy efficiency level, which can save an average household 15% to 20% of air conditioning electricity bills every year.
Autonomous simple maintenance vs professional maintenance safety red line
- Homeowners can do by themselves: Remove and clean the nylon filter regularly every 2 to 3 weeks (rinse with clean water and dry in a cool place, do not expose it to the sun to avoid deformation and embrittlement); clean the air outlet blades of the indoor unit with a dry cloth; check whether there is any accumulation of debris within 50 cm around the outdoor unit that hinders heat dissipation.
- Professional technicians must be entrusted according to regulations: Refrigerant pressure testing and leakage repair welding, high-pressure cleaning of indoor unit air drums and aluminum fins with liquid chemicals, reset of the drainage slope of hidden cold water pipes in the ceiling, and 220V dedicated power circuit configuration and leakage circuit breaker replacement.
