Home maintenance is a large part of the responsibility of owning a home. While homeownership is advantageous for the most part, keeping on top of the many areas that need attention, work, cleaning, maintenance, etc. can become arduous if you don’t have a good plan in place. We recommend having a seasonal checklist to ensure that your home remains well-maintained throughout the year, without becoming overwhelming.
The following is a synopsis of summer home maintenance tips and suggestions you might want to consider getting your home ready for the summer season. Personalize your checklist as necessary based on your individual home needs:
Get Your Home Ready for Summer With These Handy Tips
Exterior Home
The following outside house maintenance suggestions will ensure your home is well-equipped to face the high temperatures, storms and/or drought of summer.
Power Wash Siding: If your home features siding or is made of brick, using a power washer to clean your siding is a good maintenance tip for the summer. You can either do this yourself or hire a professional, but removing the dirt, dust, mold and grim will ensure your home looks its best for the season.
Repaint/Repair: If you notice any faded exterior paint, cracking or chips, now is the ideal time to repair and repaint your home. Not only does a fresh coat of paint look good, it actually helps protect your home from the weather that can sometimes become severe in summer.
Clean Downspouts and Gutters: Another suggestion for home maintenance for the summer is ensuring your gutters are clear of debris. Gutters can often become full of leaves, sticks, pine cones (depending on area) and other debris. This will clog them up, making it impossible for them to drain properly. While cleaning the gutters is recommended mainly in the fall and spring, you can still check them during summer. After all, summer storms can dump lots of rain in a short amount of time, so you want to make sure your gutters and downspouts are ready for the job.
Check Your Foundation: Look for leaks and cracks along the exterior of your foundation. This can be an entry point for groundwater in the case of flooding, which can lead to some serious issues down the road.
Wash Your Windows: The beautiful sun of the summer is often a welcome sight. Make sure that your windows are washed inside and out to remove built-up dirt and grim and enjoy the pretty sunshine.
Interior Home
Don’t forget about the interior of your home when considering summer home maintenance tips. The following are some suggestions for the inside of your home, most of which will save you money in the long run as you attempt to keep your home functionally optimally:
Check Windows for Leaks: While washing your windows, check them for leaks. If you see any, re-caulk the seals around your windows and doorways, this will increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Clean Out Your Garbage Disposal: Do this job now to avoid needing a plumber later.
Clean Exhaust Duct and Dryer Vent: Lint can easily clog your dryer vents, which will make your dryer work harder and less efficiently. It can even cause a house fire!
Check Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Make sure they are in working order and have fresh batteries.
Have A/C Serviced and Checked: Having your HVAC unit looked at, cleaned and serviced is a wise way to prevent a more costly repair.
Keep the above easy summer home maintenance tips in mind to get your home ready for summer and to save yourself the additional hassle in the future.
