School's Out: Time to Get Ahead at Home
School’s out, the kids are home, and your to-do list just got a lot longer. Whether you're jetting off on holiday, planning local adventures, or embracing a staycation, summer is the perfect time to tackle those small-but-important home tasks — and keep the children entertained without losing your mind.
In this guide, we’ve pulled together the following, to make the summer school break a little easier:
- Smart home maintenance tasks for the summer break
- Fun and helpful jobs kids can do around the house
- A pre-holiday plumbing checklist
- And... a 20% discount on boiler servicing until 31st August 2025
Simple Homeowner Tasks To
Tackle This Summer
Whether you're going away or staying put, summer is an ideal time to get ahead with home maintenance while the heating system is having a break.
Boiler And Plumbing Checks For Adults
As plumbing and heating experts, we naturally focus on everything gas and water-related—so let’s start by ticking those off your list. After all, making sure your home is safe and sound while you're away, or simply trying to enjoy a summer at home with the kids, gives you one less thing to worry about.
- Book a boiler service while engineers are more available – make sure your boiler and plumbing system are in good shape before you go, so you’re not greeted by any surprises when you get back.
- Check under sinks and taps for small drips or leaks
- Turn off your stop tap if you're away for more than a few days
- Empty out gutters or outdoor drains if expecting storms
- If your boiler has an eco or holiday mode, activate it to reduce energy usage (especially for hot water).
Energy-Saving Tips
1
Unplug unused electronics before going away – TVs, kettles, microwaves, PCs, gaming devices, and other appliances often sit in standby mode and continue to draw power. Unplug anything that won’t be in use to reduce phantom energy use and lower your electricity bill.
2
Switch your boiler to ‘off’, ‘standby’, or ‘eco’ mode – If you’re away during summer, there’s usually no need to run your boiler. Use holiday or eco settings if available or simply turn it off to prevent unnecessary heating or hot water generation.
3
If you’re away during winter, keep heating on low – While not needed in a summer guide, it’s worth noting for future use: in colder months, keeping your heating on low can help prevent frozen pipes while the house is empty.
4
Adjust your thermostat – Turn it down or off before leaving, depending on whether you need hot water. Many modern thermostats have an ‘away’ mode or smart settings to reduce energy usage automatically while you’re not home.
5
Check your immersion heater or hot water timer – If it’s set to run on a timer, make sure it’s not heating water unnecessarily while no one’s home. Switch it off at the mains if hot water isn’t needed during your time away.
Outdoor Checks Before You Go on Holiday
Before you head off on your summer break, give your outdoor space a once-over to avoid coming home to damage, pests, or unnecessary water use:
- Store away garden toys, tools, and furniture – Put away anything that could be blown around in summer thunderstorms or become weather-worn while you're away. This also helps prevent theft if your garden is visible from the street.
- Turn off garden taps or hose connections completely – Avoid accidental leaks, water wastage, or even hose bursts during heatwaves by turning off outdoor taps at the valve.
- Empty and store paddling pools – Standing water can attract mosquitoes and algae. Empty, clean, and dry them thoroughly before folding and storing.
- Cover sandpits securely – Use a fitted lid or tarp to keep out rain, animals, and debris.
- Check your shed or garage is locked – Ensure garden tools, lawnmowers, and outdoor equipment are securely stored and out of sight.
- Bring in or tie down lightweight plant pots – Wind or heavy rain can tip them over and damage plants or paving.
- Cover outdoor seating furniture – protect those outdoor sofa cushions from rain, wind, and foxes.
- Trim overgrown bushes or low-hanging branches – It makes your property look well-maintained – it's always nice to return home to a tidy home and garden, it just makes coming home that little bit more bearable.
Summer Activity Ideas For Kids (That Keep Them Busy At Home)
Looking for ways to keep your children occupied and happy during the summer break—without hearing “I’m bored” every five minutes? Here are some fun, age-appropriate activity ideas that can help your day run more smoothly and even give you a few minutes of peace in between days out and socialising.
Babies & Toddlers (0–3 years)
- Sensory play stations – Fill ice-cream tubs with water, rice, jelly, or sand for supervised exploration. Add spoons, cups, and safe toys.
- Splash time in the garden – A shaded paddling pool or water table works wonders on a warm day. Even a few buckets or storage containers filled with water can provide hours of fun!
- Sticker fun or grab an old bed sheet that is no longer needed for colouring fun – Keep hands busy while you get on with things.
- Toy wash station – Let them “wash” plastic toys in warm soapy water with a sponge (with supervision) - while we don’t enjoy washing up, little ones seem to love it!
School-Age Kids (4–10 years)
- Back garden scavenger hunt – Create a list of things to find: a feather, something blue, a stone, a flower, etc – not feeling creative enough? Ask Chat GPT to do the work for you (see our perfect prompt below).
- DIY ice lollies – Let them mix juice, fruit, or yogurt into moulds. Great for kitchen confidence and creativity.
- Set up a mini car wash or bike wash
- Build a bug hotel or mini garden – Use twigs, leaves, and old plant pots galore.
- Create a home cinema afternoon/evening – You could even get them decorating the garden or living room in preparation for family-friendly movie time - stringing up fairy lights, using glow sticks, or mini torches, laying out blankets, cushions, beanbags, and setting up a snack station.
- Obstacle course challenge – Indoors or outdoors using cushions, garden toys, string, or anything you have to hand.
Need help creating your scavenger hunt list?
Try this ChatGPT prompt:
"Can you create a fun, age-appropriate backyard scavenger hunt list for children aged 4–10? Include 10 items to find or observe, with a mix of nature-based and imaginative prompts."
Feel free to tweak the age range or setting (e.g. “indoor rainy day,” “beach day,” “woodland walk”) if you want to use it more than once!
Tweens & Teenagers (11+ years)
- Start a summer photo challenge – One photo a day around a theme (nature, colour, mood).
- Teach them a life skill a week – How to cook a simple meal, change a bed, or use a washing machine.
- DIY garden project – Paint a plant pot, tidy a small corner, or repot something.
- Offer a summer ‘helper’ role – Let them assist with small tasks like booking appointments online or helping younger siblings with a craft activity.
- Start a mini business – Lemonade stand, dog walking, or washing neighbours’ cars for pocket money.
- Garden camp-out night – Let them plan an evening outside with sleeping bags, fairy lights, and snacks.
Heading off on a summer adventure?
Whether travelling by plane, train or car, long journeys can be tough for little travellers (and their grown-ups), so it’s wise to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep boredom, and meltdowns, at bay.
For small children...
- Reusable sticker books – Mess-free and reusable fun on plane windows or tray tables.
- Snack necklaces – String cereal or toddler-friendly snacks for edible entertainment.
- Favourite soft toy or blanket – Familiar comfort can ease travel stress and encourage napping.
For school-age children...
- Travel activity packs – Fill a zip-up bag with colouring books, crayons, word searches, stickers, fidget toys etc.
- Audiobooks or story podcasts – Load up a phone or tablet with child-friendly stories before you leave.
- Surprise bag – Wrap up a few small toys or snacks and let them open one per hour/milestone.
For tweens and teens...
- Downloadable playlists or games – Offline playlists, puzzle apps, or creative apps (like drawing or photo editing) work well.
- Holiday journal or sketchbook – Encourage them to write or draw about the journey and their destination.
- Pre-loaded films or series – Ideal for longer trips—just don’t forget the headphones!
Special Offer –
20% Off Boiler Servicing
We’re making it easier for families to get on top of home maintenance this summer.
What’s Included:
- Full boiler service by Gas Safe registered engineers
- Checks for pressure, safety, leaks, and efficiency
- Helpful advice and peace of mind before colder months
Offer Details:
- 20% off standard boiler servicing prices
- Valid for all customers (new or existing)
- Book between 1 April and 31 August 2025
Don't just take our word for it:
“Had my boiler serviced last month by Rod. Really nice, friendly engineer who turned up on time and explained everything to me. He checked everything properly, cleaned parts that needed it, and made sure the boiler was running safely and properly. This is the second time we've used Maintracts for a service – as a woman who is often home alone in the day, I feel comfortable and safe with the engineers. They have always been reliable. Would recommend to others.”
Read more customer reviews
FAQS
No need to run your heating during a heatwave, but it’s still smart to service your boiler now to catch any issues before the busy season.
Yes. Servicing during summer ensures your boiler is safe, efficient, and ready when colder months arrive.
It reduces hot water output and lowers system activity to save energy while you're away.
We service boilers in the following areas:
Whether you need a boiler service, boiler repair or a completely new boiler installed, the Maintracts Services team will happily oblige. Contact us at your convenience, if we can help ease the load this summer with any plumbing or heating jobs, so you are well prepared for winter.
Oliver Osmore has been part of Maintracts Services since 2001, following in his father’s footsteps. As Managing Director, he ensures the company runs smoothly, supports customers and engineers, and thrives on solving complex problems others can’t. Highly organised and approachable, Oliver works closely with customers to deliver tailored solutions, drawing on his extensive experience in plumbing, heating, and electrical services to resolve enquiries efficiently.
Since 1974, Maintracts Services has built a reputation for high-quality installation, maintenance, and repairs. Under Oliver’s leadership, the company remains committed to professionalism, safety, and customer satisfaction.