With the changing season comes a difference in home maintenance requirements. Home upkeep can be tiring, and with how fast the season changes, skipping a day can mean quite the difference. That’s why we came up with this checklist to help you make sure your home is in good condition, especially with summer around the corner (and fall following shortly).
Summer Checklist:
Many people enjoy summer. The temperature’s warm (sometimes even too hot!), and it’s the best time to relax by a pool. Many schools also have their summer vacation, giving families time to relax and take a break. But of course, before you fully enjoy your summer, here are some maintenance tips before you kick back and relax.
Clean Off Flammable Debris.
As we all know, summer’s hot and dry weather is an invitation for fires to happen. If you’re not particularly careful, even a small spark can trigger a fire. That’s why it’s the best time to make sure that your home is free of any flammable debris that you barely even notice. Have your dryer vent cleaned, as the lint that collects inside is a fire hazard. Sweep your backyard free of dried leaves, too, especially if you’re planning a barbecue or a campfire.
Clean Refrigerators and Freezer.
During summer, our fridges and freezers work extra hard to keep our food frozen. This results in a higher electricity bill. Ensure to check the condenser coils behind the fridge and remove any dust or dirt accumulated. While newer models often have a self-cleaning system, it’s still a good idea to make sure.
Look Around for Leaks.
Everyone knows how damaging water leaks can be. Even the most minute faucet or pipe leaks can turn into something difficult to manage. To prevent any mold or mildew from ever developing, check for leaks. Check your faucet, your pipes, gutters, and roof. Especially with summer being prone to sporadic rainfall, the last thing you want is a leaky roof.
Prune Bushes, Trees, and Shrubs.
While many people usually recommend pruning during winter, there’s a lot of benefits to pruning during summer as well. It makes sure that dead limbs and branches are removed, and it promotes plant growth and strength. It also helps keep pests off, especially dangerous aphids that normally multiply during summer.
Fall Checklist:
Fall is often seen as the best season for upkeep and maintenance because of the moderate and usually dry temperature. While raking the leaves that have fallen is a common autumn cleaning activity, there’s more to it than that. Here’s a few more to keep in mind.
Check Your HVAC System.
Fall marks the changing of the temperatures. We begin to change the HVAC setting from “cooling” to “heating.” Along with this comes the requirement to check whether there are any problems with the HVAC. Make sure to check your air filters and see if they’re due for changing.
Get Your Chimneys or Vents Cleaned.
As mentioned before, fall signals the temperature change. This makes it the best time to make sure that everything is in preparation for what is perhaps the harshest season: winter. Make it a habit to include getting your chimneys or vents and vents cleaned during fall. Especially in the case of chimneys, as they can contain dangerous gases that can be quite dangerous. Doing it early on makes it easier to manage during the winter.
Re-seal Doors and Windows.
Here’s an energy-saving tip: re-caulk your doors and windows to keep warm air in and cool air out. Our heating system works harder when the warm air it produces escapes, so to prevent wastage of energy, look around your house to see if there’s anything that needs re-sealing or re-caulking.
Clean the Gutter.
Your gutter might have taken a beating due to the summer rain showers, and with the leaves falling during fall, it can lead to quite the mess. Make sure to clean your gutter, remove any debris, leaves, or branches that can add weight and prove to be a danger- especially if it snows heavily in your area. You don’t want to wait till the temperature’s above freezing before you clean your gutter.
Preparing your home for the changing of the season is part of any homeowner’s responsibility. It’s not fun, it’s a lot of work, and it’s tiring — but it’s crucial. Upkeep and maintenance are done to make sure your everyday life is convenient and free of hassles. So what’s a day of work compared to months of comfort, right?
