June 20, 2020
Summer Living – Maintenance Tips for Warm Weather
Are you ready to enjoy your summer at home? Fewer families will be traveling this summer, planning more stay-at-home time during the warmest months. Is your house up to the task? Go through this easy checklist from the experts at Ernest Homes to get your home in tip-top shape for the next few months!
- Do a test of your smoke detectors.
- Get your cooling system ready – a preventive once-over by a pro can eliminate devastating malfunctions later this summer.
- Dust ceiling fan blades and check that the fans are all in good working order. Reverse the direction of the ceiling fans if necessary.
- Get your chimney cleaned. If you have a fireplace, now is the time to call a chimney cleaning service. They’re much less busy this time of year, so you should have your pick of dates and times.
- Check the carbon monoxide detectors.
- Clean the garbage disposal. Warmer temperatures can cause faster food spoilage and stronger odors.
- Wash the windows, inside and out. Once they’re clean, consider adding sun-blocking film to cut down on glare and help reduce energy costs. While you’re at it, clean and repair window screens. Clean glass means nothing if the screens are dusty and dirty.
- Inspect your fence, if you have one.
- Tackle some decluttering.
- Clean your grill to prep for summer barbeques.
- Wash down your porch.
- Give your deck a thorough check. Look for loose boards or ones that aren’t intact and replace them as soon as possible. If needed, re-stain or re-seal your deck.
- Set a watering schedule for your plants or grass.
- Add a layer of mulch to your plants. Mulch helps retain much-needed water your plants crave during the summer months.
- Check for leaks in outdoor hoses and faucets.
- Protect your home against unwanted pests. Visit your local home store for the best products to control insect and animal invasions.
- Clean out the gutters and downspouts.
- Inspect the caulking around the windows and doors of your home. Caulk not only helps seal cool air inside, it helps keep insects from coming inside.
- Consider having your driveway and walkway pressure washed. It’s also a great time to reseal the driveway if needed.
- Consider an outdoor clothesline. Not only will the clothes smell amazing, an outdoor clothesline means you’re not using your dryer as much.
- Give your outdoor play equipment a good once-over. If anything is broken or unsafe, repair or replace it right away.
- Stock up on pool supplies. Instead of buying smaller containers that will require multiple trips to the store over the summer, buy in bulk for convenience.
- Put a sturdy mat at the door to keep dirt, mud and grass outside.
- Vacuum your vents. Removing accumulated dust and debris from fan and dryer vents provides cleaner, quieter operation.
- Check your pipes for leaks. Leaky pipes can cause extensive (and expensive!) damage to your home. Learn how to find tell-tale signs of leaky pipes here.
- Check out your garage door opener. If necessary, oil the mechanism and the door hinges.
