Home maintenance is probably the last thing on your mind when the warm weather arrives. However, summer is the perfect time to take care of some essential home repairs and improvements. By getting these tasks out of the way, when the weather is nice, you can avoid larger, more expensive projects you may have to deal with in the dead of winter. So, if you would like to prevent this, then read on! This article will find some helpful summer maintenance tips for your home.
Why You Should Always Make Home Maintenance A Priority
Homeownership comes with a lot of responsibilities. In addition to making mortgage payments and keeping up with landscaping, you must ensure your home is in good repair. That’s why it’s always a good idea to prioritize home maintenance. By staying on top of minor repairs and scheduling regular inspections, you can avoid costly problems down the road.
Of course, home maintenance can be time-consuming and expensive. For example, fixing a small leak in your roof can prevent significant water damage later. Or, if you regularly have your furnace serviced, you’re less likely to experience a sudden breakdown during a cold snap.
But when you compare the cost of preventive maintenance to the cost of major repairs, it’s clear that it’s always worth the investment. So if you want to keep your home in tip-top shape, always make home maintenance a priority.
Summer Maintenance Tips
Although home maintenance is essential all year round, some tasks are best in the summer. And even more so if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. So before the temperature starts to rise, be sure to check off these items on your summer maintenance checklist.
Have Your A/C Inspected
As the summer heat starts to bear down, the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to stop working. That’s why it’s essential to have your A/C unit inspected by a professional at least once a year. During an inspection, the technician will clean the unit, check for wear and tear, and test the refrigerant levels, which will help ensure that your A/C unit is running efficiently and prevent costly repairs down the line.
In addition, the technician may also be able to identify any potential issues that could cause your A/C unit to fail in the future. Having your A/C inspected regularly can help keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
Clean Out Your Gutters
One crucial chore that should be on your list is cleaning your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause various problems, including water damage to your home, insect infestations, and even mold growth. Fortunately, cleaning out your gutters is relatively easy and only takes a few hours to complete.
To start, you’ll need to gather basic supplies, including a ladder, a garden hose, a trowel, and some gloves. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to get to work. First, remove debris accumulated in the gutters using your trowel or gloved hands.
Next, flush the gutters with water from your garden hose to remove any remaining dirt or grit. Finally, inspect the gutters for any cracks or damage and make repairs as necessary. By cleaning out your gutters this summer, you can help protect your home from costly problems down the road.
Inspect All Your Smoke Detectors
While most people think of winter as the time of year when fire safety is most important, the truth is that summertime is when house fires are most likely to occur. That’s why it’s essential to ensure that all your smoke detectors are in good working order before the warmer months begin.
To start:
- Check the batteries in all your smoke detectors and replace them if necessary.
- In addition, vacuum out any dust accumulated on the detectors to ensure they’re able to function properly.
- Test each detector to make sure it’s working correctly.
By taking these simple steps, you can help keep your family safe all summer long.
Clean Your Chimney
While it may not be the most exciting task, Regular chimney cleaning is crucial for preventing fires and ensuring that your fireplace is in good working order. There are a few different ways to clean a chimney, but one of the simplest is to use a chimney sweep. First, you’ll need to remove debris from the chimney’s top.
Next, open the firebox and sweep away any accumulated ashes over the winter. Finally, use the wire brush to scrub the inside of the chimney itself. By taking these steps, you can help to keep your home safe and prepare your fireplace for another season of use.
Change The Direction Of Your Ceiling Fans
As the temperature rises, you may reach for the thermostat to cool off your home. But before you do that, you can make a simple change to the ceiling fans that will help you feel cooler and save you money on your energy bill. In the summer, you should run your ceiling fans counterclockwise, which creates a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. And since ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioners, making this switch can help you save money on your electric bill. So if you’re looking for a way to beat the heat without breaking the bank, be sure to tackle this easy summer maintenance task.
Change All The Filters In Your Home
As the summer months approach, it’s important to remember to change all the filters in your home – not just the ones in your air conditioner. You should replace your furnace filter every three months, but during the summer, when you’re running your air conditioner more often, it’s a good idea to check it monthly and replace it as needed. In addition, many homes have whole-house air filters, which you should change every six months.
These filters help remove pollen, dust, and other airborne contaminants, making it easier to breathe and reducing the risk of allergies. So don’t forget to change your filters this summer – your lungs will thank you!
Inspect For Any Cracks Or Leaks Around Your Home
High winds and heavy rains can cause damage to your home, so it’s essential to inspect for any cracks or leaks around the property before the bad weather hits. One way to do this is to walk outside your house and look for gaps in the siding or trim. These gaps can be by expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, allowing water to enter your home during a storm. If you find any gaps, seal them with caulk or weatherstripping to keep the water out.
It’s also a good idea to check your roof for any signs of damage. Look for missing shingles or tiles. If you find any, repair them as soon as possible to prevent water from leaking into your home. Finally, don’t forget to inspect your windows and doors for any cracks or leaks. These openings can let in water and cause severe damage to your home if they’re not correctly sealed.
Take Action With These Summer Maintenance Tips!
Summer is the perfect time to take care of some of the maintenance tasks you may have been putting off all year. By taking care of these tasks now, you can help prevent problems down the road. So be sure to add these tasks to your summer to-do list! Then once you have them done, you can sit back and enjoy the warm weather worry-free. And who doesn’t want some stress-free days in the sun?
