00VILLA GUIDE
Keeping the maid’s room and annex in good order
Maid’s rooms, drivers’ rooms and garden annexes are lived in every day but often maintained last. They tend to have the smallest AC units, the lightest electrical circuits and compact bathrooms, so faults affect the people who live there quickly. A regular look keeps them comfortable and safe.
01PART
Cooling and ventilation
Small rooms with small windows overheat and get humid. Check that AC units cool properly, filters are clean and drains run freely. Bathroom extract fans should work, or mould follows.
- Service the AC regularly.
- Check extract fans run.
- Look for mould in corners and wardrobes.
02PART
Power and appliances
These rooms gain kettles, heaters, irons and small fridges over time. If the circuit trips when two run at once, it is overloaded. Damaged leads and extension blocks are common.
- Note what appliances are used.
- Replace damaged leads.
- Avoid chains of extension blocks.
03PART
Bathroom and water
Compact bathrooms see heavy use. Check for leaks, slow drains, sealant failure and water heater operation, and that the floor drain is not dry or smelly.
- Check the water heater works.
- Test drains and floor traps.
- Renew failed sealant.
04QUESTIONS
- Why does the annex circuit trip?
- It is often sized for light loads and now carries heaters and kettles.
- How often should these rooms be checked?
- At least seasonally, as for the main house.
- Is mould common?
- Yes, in small, humid rooms without good extraction.
- Should the annex have its own isolation?
- It helps. Being able to switch off power and water to the annex separately makes repairs easier and limits damage if something fails there.