Your Essential Summer Home Maintenance Guide
Want to make sure your home is ready for the long, hot summer? Now that you’ve weathered winter and spring, we’ve got the essential maintenance guide to prepare your home for the summer heat.
Inspect and Clean Windows and Screens
Summer is a great time to inspect your windows for leaky seals or rotting window panes. It’s also an excellent time to upgrade older windows to energy-efficient models. This can help lower your electricity bills by keeping your home cooler. Finally, take advantage of warmer weather and wash your windows and screens. Use soap and water or window cleaner to remove dirt and pollen.
Clean Gutters
Dead leaves, twigs, and dirt can clog your gutters, causing water to pool and overflow. This can lead to roof, wall, basement, or foundation damage. Rotting gutter gunk can also cause mold and attract pests. To clean your gutters, get on a ladder and use a trowel or your hands to remove debris. Once you’ve done this, use a spray nozzle on your garden hose to flush the gutters.
Are you gutters sagging or torn? Repair or replace your gutters now to avoid serious foundation damage later.
Maintain HVAC System
Get your HVAC system in shape for summer with a professional maintenance checkup! If needed, you can also choose to upgrade your home with a fresh AC installation in Overland Park or anywhere else in the Kansas City metro. Check regularly to ensure your outdoor HVAC unit is clear of dirt, pollen, and debris. Also, make sure the area around your indoor unit is clutter-free for best performance. Change air filters to improve your home’s air quality and allow your system to work more efficiently.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Switch your ceiling fans to run counterclockwise in the summer. This pushes air straight down, creating a cooling breeze. Many fans have a direction switch on the side above the fan blades. Turn the fan off and flip the switch to the opposite direction. Use a ladder or step stool to do this. While you’re up there, you could also dust the fan blades.
Refresh Landscape
While you’re tackling some home maintenance, why not give your yard an upgrade while you’re at it? Mow, water, and weed to keep your lawn and garden healthy through the summer. Add a layer of mulch to your garden beds and around plants. This will help keep moisture in the ground and protect plant roots from the scorching sun.
Pressure Wash Driveways, Walkways and Sidewalks
Blast away dirt, stains, mold, moss, and mildew with a good pressure wash for your concrete surfaces. You can rent a pressure washer from a hardware store and hook it up to a hose, or hire a professional to do it for you.
Deck Prep
Get your deck ready for summer gatherings by inspecting it for damage. Remove any off-season debris and give it a good sweep and wash. Paint or stain your wood deck if necessary. If it’s been a while since you’ve used your grill, check the gas line for cracks and give the grates a good cleaning.
Home maintenance doesn’t take a summer break, so use this guide to help cross these tasks off your to-do list. This warm-weather upkeep could ward off much bigger worries in the seasons to come.
