Essential Home Maintenance for Summer
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June 8, 2020

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Summer is nearly here again. Even amid COVID-19 when all the days seem to run together, the seasons keep changing. Another thing that keeps going is the never-ending cycle of home maintenance.

Changing seasons is a natural alarm clock that tells you it’s time to do some routine home maintenance. We’ve made a list of the essential home maintenance tasks for summer you’ll want to check off.

These tasks will keep your home appliances and features in good, working condition and extend their lifetime. A little proactive care can go a long way in preventing major (and costly) disasters.

Essential Summer Home Maintenance

Landscaping

Summer comes with longer days and more sunlight, which makes this season a great time to do yard work. Some of the essential tasks are fixing dead patches of grass or sloping grades in the lawn, cleaning out gutters, replacing dead flowers, and trimming your trees.

All these landscaping tasks are pretty simple, they just require manual labor. Break out your gloves and work jeans and don’t forget to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated!

Paint the Exterior

Whether it’s touch-ups or the entire home, summer is the perfect time to paint the exterior. Less rain and hotter temperatures mean the paint will dry faster, reducing the likelihood that the weather will mess up your hard work. While you’re at it, you can inspect the siding and patch or repair any damage or holes you find.

HVAC Service

You don’t have to call a professional to service your AC unit, although that is an option. With a little research on your unit, you can handle the annual or quarterly maintenance yourself.

Summer is the perfect time to do this preventative maintenance because we all know that AC units tend to go out when we need them most. Don’t get stuck with a broken unit in the dog days of summer.

Besides replacing the air filter (which you should do every month for 1-inch filters), clean your vents, and clean and wash your outdoor unit, as well. Take the top off your unit and remove brush buildup, straighten out the metal fins on the grate, clear any debris in the airflow ducts and condenser drain, and check fluid levels.

Flush the Water Heater

This is an easy-to-overlook home maintenance task but flushing your water heater annually will keep sediment buildup from your pipes and extend the life of your water heater.

This simple task won’t require much time and practically no tools except for a garden hose. First, shut off the heating elements and water valves, then drain the tank, flush it with cold water, and you’re good to go!

In the summer, hot water may not be as much of a necessity as it is in the winter, but like with air conditioning, these units tend to break down when you need them most. Servicing your water heater during the summer helps ensure that it’ll last you through the colder months.

Deck Repair

Even amid COVID-19, chances are you’ll want to spend some time on the back porch, whether it’s watching the kids in the pool, grilling, or simply lounging around.

Before you do though, make sure to repair the deck so it’s in tip-top shape. A new sealant to keep out moisture will help prevent rot. However, if your deck already has some rot, replace the spots before they get out of control. Make sure to keep your deck clean throughout the summer to extend the life of this backyard feature.

Clean Large Home Appliances

A simple regular cleaning can extend the life of your household appliances, too. Run a mold-killing cycle on your washing machine and dishwasher. Make sure each machine dries well in between cycles. Next, grab a vacuum and clear debris from dryer vents and air vents on your refrigerator.

Performing regular cleaning on these appliances every quarter will keep them running smoothly and for longer, too.

Car Maintenance

No commute means no need for your car to be available 24/7. Since your car is probably spending even more of its time in the garage these days, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up on those car maintenance tasks that might have fallen by the wayside.

Are you thinking about what home repairs to put on your home maintenance for summer list? We hope this list has given you a starting point.

If you’re interested in making some bigger renovations to your home soon, check out our blog: Worst Home Renovations for ROI (and what to do instead).

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