Summer is a time for fun and family. You want to make the most of your time and not spend it working around the house. It always seems that there are other priorities. Attending to your summer home maintenance checklist early will save you time, money, and headaches down the road. Below are a few maintenance items you may want to consider to better protect your home.
Indoor Maintenance
· Clean, inspect, and reverse the rotation of your ceiling fans.
Dusting your fans regularly will help them better move the air in your home. Inspect your fans for dust buildup, loose blades, vibrations, and wobbling. Wobbling will add additional stress to the motor fan bearings, resulting in increased wear.
Be sure that your fan blades are rotating counterclockwise in the summer, pushing the air towards the floor. This can help reduce the room temperature by up to 8 degrees. In the winter, you want to change the fans to turn in a clockwise rotation.
· Inspect for leaks at your doors and windows.
Reducing energy bills and your impact on the environment should be a goal for every homeowner. Allowing your conditioned indoor air to leak out is bad for your energy efficiency. Inspect the seals and weatherstripping on your doors and windows. If you are a DIYer, replace or repair as needed, or call a window contractor.
· Clean your air ducts and vents.
Perform an inspection of all exhaust fans, ventilation systems, dryer exhaust, and your HVAC air ducts and returns. Over time, dust builds up, restricts flow, and ultimately reduces efficiency and increases energy consumption. Clean ducts and vents help to aid efficient exhaust and improve the circulation of the air in your home.
· Inspect and test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Regular upkeep and inspection of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors helps ensure your family’s safety. Replace batteries when needed, and if your smoke detectors are more than 10 years old, they should be replaced.
Outdoor Maintenance
· Service your air conditioner.
It’s a good idea to have your air conditioning system serviced annually. There is nothing worse than coming home on a hot and humid day to find your air conditioner has stopped working. Emergency service calls can be expensive, and you may have to wait a day or two to get someone to your home for repairs. Periodic cleaning and care of your condensate line will help prevent overflows into your home. Having your system maintained regularly can save you headaches and money in the long run.
· Inspect your home’s siding and trim.
The seasons can take a toll on your siding and trim. Making any necessary repairs, sealing up cracks and openings, and removing mold and dirt from your siding will increase its life. Using a pressure washer and products specific to cleaning your siding will make this job easier. In addition to curb appeal, keeping your siding maintained will help protect your home from the elements.
· Clean your gutters and downspouts.
This is not a fun job, especially if your home has more than one level. Gutters and downspouts play a key role in directing water away from your home. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, hire a professional.
· Spruce up your landscaping.
Replace any shrubs or plants that may have been damaged due to the winter or drought. Trim all branches and limbs away from your home so that they do not rub on the shingles or siding. Check branches on trees for damage and trim or remove them if necessary. Bigger projects should be left to professionals if they are close to power lines, fences, or other structures. Proper landscaping can also keep bugs and critters away from your home. If you find any insect infestations in your landscaping, call a professional to resolve the problem.
Summary
Your home is probably your most important asset. Keeping your home’s systems maintained and properly functioning will manage costs and keep your home looking good.
At HomePro Inspections, our home inspectors are trained to inspect all areas of the home. Deferred maintenance can turn a relatively simple project into a more serious repair if left unchecked. Any issues found are documented in your home inspection report and recommended for resolution by a qualified professional.
Visit our website to learn more or to schedule your home inspection in the Rochester, Owatonna, and Faribault, MN areas. You can contact us today at (507) 202-8942 or utilize our online “Schedule Now” feature to set up an appointment.