Twice a year it’s worth spending an hour walking through your flat before small issues become costly ones. Spring and autumn are the natural checkpoints — after winter and before it. Some things you can check yourself; others are better left to a professional.
Spring Inspection: After Winter
Winter puts stress on the building fabric and installations. When temperatures rise, problems that were masked by the cold start to surface.
- Windows and balcony doors: check seals after the frost. A cracked or hardened seal lets in draught and insects; replace it before summer.
- Walls and ceilings — look for damp patches, peeling paint, or discolouration. Thermal bridges are active in winter; the results show up in spring.
- Pipes and joints: inspect for cracks or signs of stress, especially in older buildings.
- Balcony or terrace: snow clearing and frost can damage grout, waterproofing, and drainage channels. Check before the rains arrive.
- Ventilation grilles — clear dust build-up from the heating season.
Autumn Inspection: Before Winter
This is the most important inspection of the year. A fault found in October costs a fraction of an emergency repair in January in Warsaw.
- Heating: run the radiators before the season starts. Noise, cold spots, leaks at valves — all of this needs attention before the first frost.
- Windows: seals, hinge adjustment, locks. A window that doesn’t close properly will show up on your heating bill.
- Chimney and ventilation: if you have a fireplace or boiler, a chimney inspection is a legal requirement, not an option.
- Sealant around the bath, shower, and window sills — autumn damp reveals weak joints quickly.
- Sockets and the electrical panel: winter increases the load on your wiring. Better to check now than during a cold snap.
Safety: Gas and Heating
Important: if your gas boiler or water heater hasn’t been serviced in over a year, book a certified technician before the season starts. Carbon monoxide has no smell. A working CO detector is cheap insurance for the whole winter: do not skip this.
What to Check Regardless of Season
Some faults have no season. Dripping tap? Creaking floorboard? Interior door that won’t latch? These things only get worse with time. The seasonal inspection is a good moment to add them to the list and deal with everything in one visit.
How to Book an Inspection
If you’d rather not do the walkthrough yourself, order it in the app. Handymen on HandyMan24 work across Warsaw and nearby towns. The handyman checks everything, shows you what needs attention and can fix it during the same visit. Pricing depends on scope, so mention the flat size and building age in your order.
Draughty windows or worn-out seals? How a handyman adjusts and seals windows is covered in the article on window sealing. You can post the job in the app, and independent handymen will send their quotes.