House Maintenance: Summer

Well it’s officially spring. The tulips and daffodills are popping up through the ground, the birds are back and kids are splashing around in every puddle they can find. It only gets better from here. Summer BBQs, picnics in the park and trips to the lake.

Hopefully by now you’ve completed your house maintenance for spring. With that done the summer house maintenance should be a breeze!

Here are a few things we do around the house in summer so we have some peace of mind when we’re out enjoying the beautiful weather.

1. Sprinklers and hoses. Ensure there are no leaks, holes or drips in your garden hoses. Check the attachment point to sprinklers and nozzles to ensure there are no leaks. Check periodically throughout the summer.

2. Interior caulking. Inspect backsplash, shower and tub caulking and repair as needed.

3. Grout. Inspect grout work around floor and wall tiles and repair as needed.

4. Decking. Condition deck boards to prolong the life of your deck. Stain or paint any exposed wood to prevent water seeping in and rotting it.

5. Carpets. Summer is a great time to clean the carpets inside your home. Rent, buy or borrow a commercial steam cleaner and freshen up the whole house. Try opening the windows and doors to dry the carpets faster.

6. Siding. Inspect house siding for cracks, lifting or other obvious damage and repair as needed. Wind can cause the siding to lift and bend potentially creating cracks allowing water to get in and cause a lot of damage.

7. Windows and screens. Ensure windows open smoothly and properly - adjust as needed. Inspect screens for holes and repair as needed so when the windows are open you’re not letting bugs in along with the sunshine.

8. Home inventory. Take advantage of rainy days by creating an asset inventory to protect you against the unthinkable.

9. Swimming pool. If you have a pool above ground or in ground, now is the time to get it set up for some serious summer fun. Get yourself a pool start up kit, take off the cover and start giving it some serious TLC. Of course contact a pool specialist to address any specific questions or concerns you have.

10. Fences and gates. Check the fences around your property to ensure they are stable and secure. Double check the gate latches still work properly and are securely fastened. Repair as needed.

That’s it, pretty simple. Now get out and get going, fall comes a lot quicker than we expect. What home maintenance do you do in summer to keep your home ticking along?

See also:

House Maintenance: Spring

Creating A Household Inventory For Insurance

Eliminate Clutter Part 1: The Cost of Clutter and Where Does it Come From?

Photo courtesy of: jaeWALK