Shelter maintenance checklist: monthly, seasonal and yearly

Shelters fail quietly. Nothing seems wrong until the day the door has to close, and then the pump does not start, the batteries are flat and the water tastes of the tank. This checklist covers what an owner should do, what needs a technician, and when. It applies to any shelter, whoever built it.

Every month: 20 minutes, done by the owner

• Walk through. Look and smell for damp, mould, fuel or anything unusual.
• Run the air system for 15 minutes and listen for unusual noise.
• Run the generator, if fitted, for a few minutes, with the area ventilated as designed.
• Check the battery display and charger status.
• Press the test button on CO, CO₂ and smoke alarms.
• Check the sump: water level, pump float free to move.
• Note anything odd in a logbook kept in the shelter.

Before summer: March to April

• Service cooling and dehumidification, and test them with the shelter closed for an hour.
• Clean solar panels and check output.
• Check battery health under load, not just the display.

Before the monsoon: May

• Run every pump, including the standby, and clear sump and drain inlets.
• Test backflow valves on drainage lines.
• Check that entries, hatches and vents are clear of anything that would block water flowing away.

After the monsoon: October

• Inspect walls, roof and joints for damp, staining or new cracks.
• Check earth cover and surface drainage for settlement or erosion.
• Look for mould behind stores and in corners with poor airflow.

Every year: a technician's visit

• Air tightness. Pressure test the shelter and confirm the overpressure valves hold.
• Filters. Measure pressure drop across HEPA filters, check gas filter seals and dates, and replace on schedule or after any use.
• Blast valves, doors and hatch. Exercise every moving part, service seals and hinges.
• Power. Battery capacity test, generator service, fuel treatment or rotation.
• Water. Rotate stored water (every 6 to 12 months) and replace purification cartridges.
• Stores. Rotate food and medicines before expiry, and update for changes in the household.
• Instruments. Calibrate radiation meters as the maker specifies, and replace gas sensors by date.
• Drill. A full household drill, including the escape hatch.

Every five years, or after an earthquake

• A structural engineer's review of the shell, joints and entries.
• Review of waterproofing performance and any repairs.
• Review of whether the shelter still fits the household and current guidance.

Signs you need help now

• Standing water, or damp that returns after drying
• A pump that does not start, or runs continuously
• Batteries that drop quickly when the grid is off
• A fuel or exhaust smell inside
• The overpressure gauge does not rise when the air system runs
• A hatch or valve that sticks

We offer maintenance plans for Qilyx shelters and audits of shelters built by others. For what each component is and how long it lasts, see components and standards.