Summer Maintenance Checklist
June 2018
Summer is a time for relaxation and fun with family and friends. Taking care of some simple household maintenance chores early in the season can help get your home and lawn ready for summer activities and give you more time to spend enjoying them. Here’s a helpful summer maintenance checklist to use for your own home and to share with clients: - Sidewalks, driveways, patios, siding and brick can all look worse for the wear after winter’s harshness. Take advantage of the warmer temperatures to power wash these areas and exterior surfaces. If you don’t want to purchase power washing equipment, check with your local hardware or home supply store about renting it.
- Warmer weather is also a good time to paint or touch up the exterior of your home. A fresh coat of paint can add curb appeal as well as a layer of protection for wood surfaces.
- Give your air conditioner some TLC. Change the filters and clean the area around the units. Trim nearby trees and shrubbery to prevent limbs and leaves from falling into the equipment. Have a qualified air conditioning professional service your system to make sure it’s ready to go when temperatures rise.
- Increase your air conditioning system’s efficiency by checking windows and doors for air leaks. Repair seals or re-caulk any openings that you find.
- Check your deck for wood that has split, cracked or is graying. If you see any of these signs, it may be time to reseal the deck.
- If your home has an automatic irrigation system, turn it on and check each zone to see if all the sprinkler heads are working and positioned correctly. To help conserve water and protect your lawn and landscaping, reposition any heads that spray water onto driveways, sidewalks, roads or patios.
- Inspect concrete areas, such as sidewalks, driveways, patios or pool decks, for cracks. Refill or repair any cracks as needed to help prevent further damage and to maintain smooth, safe surfaces for walking.
- If you have a swimming pool, check the chemical balance and system equipment to make sure everything is ready for summer use. It’s also a good time to do a safety check and inspect flotation devices, fences and other protective accessories to make sure they are functional.
- Perform an electrical inspection of the inside of your home by going room to room and looking for any potential electrical hazards, such as overloaded outlets or electrical cords running under rugs and carpets. Trip your circuit breaker every six months to make sure it’s working properly, too.
- Replace the bulbs in exterior lights and clean the fixtures so that outdoor summer fun can continue after the sun goes down.
- It’s a good idea to clean your dryer’s vent and exhaust duct regularly. Clogged lint and dust in either of these areas could be a fire hazard.
- Have your lawn mower serviced and the blades sharpened. Check other lawn equipment, such as leaf blowers, water hoses and edging tools to make sure they are in good working order.
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