10 Crucial Home Maintenance Tips for Summer

Summer is accompanied by warm sunshine, trips to the beach and lush, green leaves and plants. However, the warm dry season also presents the opportunity to complete chores around the house. By following these crucial home maintenance tips for the summer, you can get your home in top condition with only a few weekends worth of work. So grab your tools, get outside and start improving upon your home, one task at a time.

The following is a list of 10 crucial home maintenance tips for the summer.

Check Electrical Wiring

While performing a variety of odd jobs around the home, take the opportunity to check electrical wiring indoors and outdoors. Specifically search for any electrical outlets that are now potential fire hazards such as loose-fitting plugs or frayed wires. Also, check surge protectors, fuse boxes, extension cords and electrical outlets to ensure they are not overloaded with plugs and appliances.

Add a Second Doormat

Keep the mud and muck from the summer outside by adding a second doormat to your entryway. Place a coarse mat at the exterior of the door and a software cloth mat on the interior. The combination of these two would catch the majority of the dirt. Also, always instruct guests to remove their shoes and keep a tub of water placed next to the door if you live near a beach.

Clean the Dryer Vent

Without the proper cleaning, your dryer can cause a house fire. According to the United States Fire Administration, there are approximately 16,000 fires occur each year due to dryer vents being clogged by dust and lint. Luckily, you can avoid danger caused by a clogged dryer bend with a few easy steps.

The first step is to purchase a vent cleaning brush kit set from any home improvement store. This kit can thoroughly clean the vent tubing more efficiently than a vacuum cleaner. Start by cleaning the lint trap housing using a smaller brush to eliminate as much dust and lint as possible. Next, disconnect one end of the dryer duct from the wall and the other end from the dryer to ensure a thorough cleaning. Additionally, use the properly-sized brush to clean the outside vent of the house in order to keep both ends free of lint and clean.

Clean the Gutters

A common gutter issue is that water and debris accumulate over the seasons which leads to water damage in and around your home. To mitigate this issue, simply grab a ladder that is long enough to reach the gutters. If the gutter is too high off of the ground, considered calling a professional to complete the job. Most experts recommend covering the gutters with wire mesh to keep debris from falling into the gutter. Also, remember to never hang onto any gutter for support as they are not meant to hold much weight.

Should you decide to do the work yourself, never lean the ladders directly onto the gutters or close to electrical wires. Also, when you scoop out the wet leaves and other debris, make sure to wet-down caked dirt so you can scoop out the remaining mud with a towel. Also, flush the gutters with a standard garden hose once they have been cleaned. This will allow for a thorough cleaning and let you know if there are leaks anywhere. Also use the hose to clean out the downspouts and ensure they are not clogged. Be gentle when cleaning the downspouts are they were constructed to withstand the same water pressure that is output by a house drain.

Have the Roof Inspected

The summer is an excellent time to have the roof inspected by a professional. This should happen once every few years to identify any areas on the house of potential leakage or damage. Overlooking a small detail on a roof can become a major problem that is expensive and a hassle to correct.

Improve upon your Paint Job

When your house is properly maintained, it makes the entire property pop. Therefore, each summer, rent a power washer and mix water with mild detergent to clean the exterior of the house. With a small amount of fun work, you can eliminate the dirt, tree sap, bird droppings and dust while allowing you to inspect the exterior of the home as the paint is being applied.

Keep the Deck Healthy

The deck is an excellent place to relax and socialize during the summer. In order to enjoy it for many years, it requires a little TLC to remain in good shape. This includes visually inspecting the boards for rotting or curling wood. If you notice damage to one of the boards, remove it and replace it with fresh wood. Part of maintaining a healthy deck is to go underneath to ensure the support structure is in acceptable shape. This also allows you to search for cracked boards or missing nails. If you see chewed boards or spider webs, call a pest-control professional to eliminate the issue.

Additionally, if you have a sealed or stained deck, experts recommend that you refinish it once per year. Begin the process with a thorough power wash then let it dry completely. Next, remove the finish or seal it with a stripper and allow it to dry again. Then, lightly sand the deck using a medium-grit sandpaper and sander and remove all dust prior to completing the next step. Finally, apply the finish into a small test area to ensure the color is correct and, if it is, apply the finish across the entire deck.

Pool Maintenance

After a long winter and spring, it is likely that the pool has not been used for at least six months. Therefore, you can get it ready for use by cleaning it up, ensure the pumps are working, balancing the chemicals and leveling the water. Start the process at least one week prior to opening to ensure the water is safe from chemical harm.

Tune up the Air Conditioning

One of the biggest priorities of summer maintenance is to ensure your air conditioner is tuned up to prevent unwanted emergencies. The tune up, as performed by a professional, will check refrigerant levels, which is critical to keeping summer electric bills low and your air conditioner running cool. The professional will also ensure your fan is functioning properly, the coils are cleaned and there are no fire hazards as a result of faulty wiring.

Window Check

To ensure the scorching heat remains outdoors, check and maintain the window’s on your home. One of the most important aspects of window maintenance is to regularly check the sealants (in the summer and winter) on the inside and out and calk open areas between. Also, check weather-stripping for any defects and replace them immediately if there is a problem.