5 Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Can Follow Before Summer

With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Winter can be hard on your home, and taking the time to perform routine maintenance and inspections can save you from costly repairs in the future.

1. Inspect Your Roof and Exterior

Winter can wreak havoc on your home’s roof and exterior. Inspect these key areas before the summer heat rolls through and have any minor issues fixed before they escalate into bigger, expensive ones.

Always use caution and take all appropriate safety measures when climbing onto your roof.

When performing your inspection, check to make sure that:

• Shingles are not cracked, misaligned or missing
• The caulk around your pipes and skylights is not cracked or damaged
• Flashing (those pieces of metal that surround your skylights, vents and chimneys) isn’t showing any signs of rust
• The chimney isn’t showing any signs of water problems

It may be worth hiring a professional to inspect your roof. Roof inspections and certifications can also help you save money on your insurance premiums. Contact us to learn more.

After inspecting the roof, check the exterior of your home.

• Touch up areas with exposed wood to prevent rot
• Consider a fresh coat of paint or pressure washing if your exterior needs it

2. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts

Leaves, dirt, sticks and other debris can make their way into your gutters over the course of winter. Damage can cause water to leak through to your basement or crawl space.

It’s a tough job, but it’s essential to clean out your gutters before summer hits.

• Use a trowel to scoop out debris, or use a gutter cleaning kit.
• Use a hose to wash away dirt and clear out clogs.
• Allow the water to run through downspouts to clean them out.
• Make sure that the water is flowing away from your home’s foundation.

If you don’t feel comfortable tackling the job yourself, hire a professional.

3. Inspect Your Attic

Before the summer heat makes it unbearable, head up to your attic to perform an inspection. Make sure that you wear a dust mask, gloves, long pants and long sleeves before entering your attic.

Cold winter temperatures make your home’s attic an attractive place for pests and critters. Look for signs of nesting and animal droppings, and safely remove them. Animal waste can cause respiratory issues and carry disease. Make sure that you’re wearing gloves and a mask when handling waste.

Before you leave, find and seal any holes that may have let the animals into your attic.

4. Service Your Air Conditioner

The last thing you want is a broken air conditioner in the middle of summer. The hot summer months are the busiest time of year for HVAC technicians, so repairs won’t be quick or easy. Inspecting and servicing your air conditioner before summer rolls in will ensure you stay cool all season long.

Here are a few things you can check yourself:

• Filter: Dirty, clogged filters make your air conditioning unit work harder. Filters should be changed every two to three months. If you’re past due for a change, spring is the best time to tackle this task.
• Power: Make sure that the A/C unit is working properly. If it doesn’t kick on, check your breaker or fuses. If it still doesn’t start up, call in a professional.

Even if the A/C appears to be working properly, you may consider getting a professional tune-up.

5. Clean Your Vents

Now that the weather is more favorable, it’s the ideal time to clean out your home’s vents, including the:

• Vents in your bathroom
• Dryer vent
• Vents in your living room, bedrooms and kitchen

Keeping your dryer vent clean will help save on energy costs (your dryer won’t have to work as hard to dry clothes) and help prevent fires.

Spring is the perfect time to do home maintenance. The sun is shining, the temperatures are favorable, and you can inspect key areas of the home that may have been impacted by rough winter weather. The tips above are a great way to keep your home in tip-top and prevent minor maintenance tasks from becoming major home expenses.