As the heat of summer beats down on your new home, it dawns on you: it’s time for summer home maintenance. Whether you’re new to homeownership or a long-time homeowner, one thing is for certain: maintenance is essential to the health and enjoyment of your new home. Preventative home maintenance can catch potentially costly problems before they have time to manifest as well as keep your energy costs within limits. Use this checklist for a guide on where to get started.
Indoor Home Maintenance:
First, start indoors, making sure to check each of the following:
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – The rule of thumb is to change the batteries on these crucial safety devices whenever you change the clocks forward and back. Can’t remember if you did so? Do it now. After installing fresh batteries, test each detector for proper operation.
- Change your air conditioner’s air filter – This is easy to do, and it will help your central air conditioning system to work more efficiently.
- Clean your refrigerator’s coil – Dust accumulates around your refrigerator’s coil, causing it to work harder than necessary and potentially overheat. Follow all manufacturer instructions.
- Check for and repair water leaks – Even a small drip is a water waster. Hidden leaks can cause extensive water damage and mold.
- Clean dust from ceiling fans, high shelves, electronic equipment, and hard to reach spots – Though out of sight, dust should be cleaned from areas where it tends to accumulate.
Outdoor Home Maintenance:
- Check for sprinkler system and other water leaks – Even small leaks from hoses, faucets, valves, and irrigation systems can lead to significant amounts of wasted water and higher water bills.
- Check for signs of rot – Look under eaves, examine your deck, along the foundation, and other areas for signs of rot.
- Examine decking and fences – How is your water seal treatment holding up? Use a hose to wash down decking and fences. If the water beads up, you can skip resealing for now. If it doesn’t, it’s time to reseal.
- Wash the exterior – Periodically hosing down the siding can give your new home that fresh look. However, use care! Pressure washing can damage siding and water may enter through unsealed crack. This may be a job better left to the pros.
- Wash the windows and screens – Clean windows and screens make a world of difference in how much you enjoy your views. Clean them inside and out.
- Clean out the rain gutters – When was the last time you or the previous homeowner cleaned out the rain gutters? This is another one of those out of sight, out of mind chores that tends to get neglected. However, clogged rain gutters can cause significant water and roof damage, making this one of the most important preventative home maintenance chores on the list.
- Mulch your plants – Mulch helps plants by keeping moisture in, delivering rich nutrients, and minimizing weeds.
- Aerate your lawn – The best time to aerate a lawn is during its growing season such as late spring or early summer, depending on where you live. Aeration addresses compacted soil and helps roots to grow more deeply.
If this sounds like a lot to do, you’re right. Home maintenance is a big, important task. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it all in a single day. Pick two or three tasks a day and you could complete your summer home maintenance list in a week or less. Get started today!
