Summer is around the corner, which means it’s time to do some maintenance on your home. Read this guide to discover a summer home maintenance checklist.
On average, Summer is the second most expensive season of the year. Homeowners in the South may find it the most expensive on cooling bills alone. The key to staying ahead of these rate increases is through early maintenance.
Using a home maintenance checklist for each season lets you budget your time and money effectively. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck with a repair at the height of the summer’s deadly heat. It’s a good idea to start every summer with proper maintenance and preparation of what is to come.
Here is a list of things to keep your house in great shape.
Easy Home Maintenance Checklist
We’ll start off with a list of to-dos that shouldn’t take too long to do.
- Cleaning Out the Fridge
The refrigerator has to do heavier lifting in the summer, but there are ways to reduce its footprint. Start by cleaning the outside with your vacuum cleaner. Get underneath and behind the fridge, sucking up any hair, dirt, or crumbs you find.
On the back of the fridge, you’ll want to vacuum over the coils to prevent dust buildup. A thin layer of dust can create a huge impact on the fridge’s efficiency. If you find the vacuum isn’t picking up enough, you can buy a long coil brush to take care of it.
Next, start purging your fridge to reduce the amount of cooling your fridge needs to do. Use this opportunity to downsize on stuff that doesn’t have to stay cold. It’s better to use up more ice than using up more fridge space.
- Windows, and Curtains, and Blinds
Windows are either gateways to heat loss or heat penetration. During the summer, you’ll need to get used to keeping natural light at a minimum. Keep the windows covered between 1 pm and 4 pm, at the very least.
Invest in some nice blackout curtains or reflective blinds. This will dramatically reduce your electric bill, especially if your house has modern insulation. Consider treating your windows with UV coating or investing in thermally insulated windows.
- Summer Kitchen Setup
Kitchens get messy quickly if things aren’t organized properly. During the summer, smaller appliances will be higher in demand. The blender is the new smoothie station and your ice dispenser is going to get a lot of work.
If your fridge’s dispenser only accommodates a standard glass, consider keeping a medium-size Tupperware filled with ice in the freezer. This is great for quickly chilling drinks and making desserts. Mix half cubed and half crushed ice for easy smoothies and coffees during the summer.
- Check Your Alarms
We’re throwing this in because it takes little effort to swap out batteries for your detectors. Yeah, some of you will need a ladder, but you’ll get over it. Summer is the perfect time to check alarms because it’s the halfway mark.
Would you rather deal with the repeated harassment of the beeps in the cold? We thought not.
Semi-Professional Maintenance for Summer
These tasks are doable by yourself, but it’s a little more involved than cleaning the house. A professional eye will help avoid costly mistakes.
- Check Your Pipes
Leaks become a little harder to detect if they are small enough. In the summer, a slow leak can evaporate on the surface and leave no evidence to the untrained eye. That’s why you should check all your lines and faucets.
Your water bill rates go up significantly over the summer, so you can get into a lot of trouble if there’s a hidden leak.
- AC Inspection and Maintenance
There are a lot of common a c problems that occur during the summer. This is because your AC is working harder, which exacerbates any underlying problems. Changing the filter every season is a given, but you’ll want a closer look before the heatwave arrives.
Hire a professional to inspect your AC unit each year before the rates go sky-high. If you’re calling the repairman during the dead of summer, prepare to spend 30-50% more.
- Roof Inspection
Why should you inspect your roof during the driest month in the year? It’s the easiest way to prevent future leaks. Before the hurricanes and heavy rains return, get up there and check for any damage.
Look for loose and damaged shingles, debris, and any warping that could compromise your roof’s integrity. Having a professional inspect your roof during the summer is a very smart and cheap investment.
- Landscaping
Keeping your lawn green is the toughest thing to do in the summer. There’s only so much you can do if you’re under a water restriction, of course. You can reduce the damage done by the heat by eliminating weed growth.
Weeds suffocate your grass and steal what little water there is in the ground. Use mulch around trees and garden beds to prevent any encroachment. For the rest of your property, don’t over-cut your grass.
Taller grass holds more water and helps defend against weeds. Water in the morning for a proper soaking. Get about three inches in the ground before the sun evaporates it all away.
- Exterior and Siding
Take care of your home’s perimeter during the summer. You’re going to get a lot of uninvited guests wanting to find a way inside. Insects catching the slightest draft from your cool interior will exploit any cracks.
Check your siding and make sure it’s in good condition. Look for any cracks in paint or mildew growth. This is really important for those who live in very humid climates.
Make sure your gutters are also clean and clear of any debris. The smallest amounts of standing water will attract mosquitos by the truckload.
Stay Safe in the Heat
Summer is not a time to procrastinate on your home maintenance checklist. The longer you wait, the more likely you’ll have to do it in the heat. It’s hard to do any basic tasks when you’re being boiled alive.
Stay safe if you’re going to do home repairs in the heat. Wear wide-brimmed hats, drink lots of water, invest in a cooling towel, and take lots of breaks. Or, you can avoid all of that by having professionals handle the job for you.
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A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.