With the change of each season comes a new set of maintenance tasks for your home. Now that summer’s here, it’s time to prepare your home and yard for the onslaught of summer heat. From air conditioner upkeep to pest control, be sure to add these simple chores to your home maintenance checklist to help keep your home happy and healthy.
Inspect air conditioners
The summer heat means it’s time to prep your air conditioner and fans for their busiest time of the year. Before you fire up the AC, make sure to remove and clean all the filters, and call the professionals for routine maintenance, so everything works properly all season long. Ceiling fans can help circulate the air in the house to ensure it stays nice and cool all day—but you’ll want to clean them with a damp rag before turning them on. If your ceilings are higher, a ceiling-fan duster can help you de-grime those hard-to-reach blades.
Polish your porch and deck
Thoroughly sweep porch and deck floors; then clean them with an all-purpose cleaner, and possibly a power washer to get the built-up dirt. Inspect your deck for signs of rotting, and hammer in any nails that may have popped up. You may discover your deck needs sealing. To check, sprinkle water on the deck’s boards. If the water beads up, you need to give it a good cleaning and then you are good to go, but if it soaks right in, it’s time to reseal.
Find the leaks
Check your hoses and exterior faucets for leaks—even a tiny drip can add up to a significant waste of water. If you discover a pinhole leak in your hose, cover it up by winding regular electrical tape around the hose in overlapping layers, just be sure it is dry when you do this
Stop dirt at the door
Keep summer’s mud and muck outside with two doormats at your main entry door. Place a coarse mat at the exterior to help loosen and remove dirt and a softer, cloth one on the interior to catch the remainder. Now is a great time to instruct family members to remove their shoes upon entering to save your floors (and mopping time!)
Inspect your roof
The weather associated with seasonal transitions such as wind, rain, and snow can damage your roof. It can also leave your home exposed to more damage during summer storms if not adequately maintained. Summer is the perfect time to check your shingles. Loose, torn, or warped shingles are an open invitation for roof leaks and water damage. Replacing a roof is one of the most substantial expenditures for homeowners, which is why adding roof inspection to your seasonal home maintenance checklist can help extend the life of your roof.
Seal foundation cracks to combat pests
Pests, such as carpenter ants and termites, can wreak costly havoc on your home. Inspecting and sealing your foundation, inside and out, can help keep these pests at bay. Make sure your basement and attic are always kept dry and ventilated, and check that there is a one-inch gap outside between soil and wood portions of the house. In the heat of the season, critters may take shelter in the cool shade of your home. To reduce the risk of unwanted four-legged neighbors entering your home, seal holes—especially in the areas around pipes and wires. For a small fee, you can purchase a spray foam at your local hardware that will fill most of the holes in your home.
Summer is not only a time for relaxation and vacations, it also presents another opportunity to catch up on proper home maintenance. The above tips can help ensure your new home remains in excellent condition. Once finished, you can enjoy the rest of the season relaxing on your outdoor patio or in the comforts of a cool interior!
Are you ready to experience the summer season in a new home? Contact a sales associate or fill out the form below and spend the rest of the summer in the comforts of your own home.
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