Getting Your Home Ready for Summer

by Lauren Busser Direct from the Designers™’ Editorial Director

Summer is here and with the beautiful weather come warm temperatures, school closings and pool openings. Vacation season is starting. Avoid home maintenance hassles by tackling jobs early to ensure that you'll have as much uninterrupted family fun as possible. If you have a vacation home, will be renting a vacation home, or you simply want to make sure your four-season home is ready for the beautiful months ahead here are some home maintenance tips to help you avoid surprise repairs and keep you comfortable this summer.

Air Conditioning Tune-Up

The number one priority on your summer checklist should be your air conditioning unit. A simple inspection can prevent unexpected A/C headaches. A tune-up by your HVAC technician usually includes an inspection of refrigerant levels, making sure your fan is functioning well, and cleaning the condenser coils thoroughly. They also inspect wiring to rule out potential fire hazards, and evaporator drains/pumps to prevent basement flooding. A thorough system inspection and cleaning can save you money on your energy bill. And remember to change or clean the air filters once a month if you use your unit on a daily basis, to maintain peak efficiency.

Inspect Your Roof

Having your roof inspected annually will ensure that you don’t have any leakage problems, and will help to prevent small issues from becoming big ones. Depending on the type of roof on your house, you may also want to clean your roof to prevent moss or fungus damage.

Clean Your Gutters

Regularly cleaning your gutters will help prevent clogging, leaks and yard or basement flooding. Twice a year is usually enough, once in the late fall or early winter after all the leaves have fallen and prior to the first snowfall, and again in the late spring or early summer after all the tree flowers, seeds and blossoms have stopped falling.

Check Your Windows

Keep the summer heat out and the cool in by checking your home’s windows for leaks. Check the inside and outside of the windows for any gaps in the sealant and inspect the weatherstripping and gaskets for wear and tear.

Pressure Wash Your Exterior

One of the best ways to maintain your home’s exterior is to pressure wash it. A good pressure wash will remove dirt, stains, and mildew and is handy if you plan to give your home’s exterior a fresh coat of pain. When you start to pressure wash your home, it's a good idea to cover plants and electrical outlets, and seal windows and doors to avoid damage or introduction of water into the home.

Maintain Your Pool

Depending on where you live, your pool has probably been closed from the fall to the late spring. Now that the weather is getting hotter and people are wanting to take a dip, it’s time to get your pool cleaned up for your summer parties. The week before you open your pool, ensure that pumps are working and your chemicals are balanced. Doing this at least a week prior to swim season will ensure that pool equipment and your new bathing suit are safe from chemical harm.

Check Your Deck’s Health

Your deck or patio is sure to be a place where a lot of your summer socializing will take place. Like the rest of your home, it can use a little TLC to stay in good shape. Take a moment to visually inspect the boards for warps or cracks. If a board appears damaged, it's not terribly difficult for a handy person to remove it and replace it with a new board that’s been cut to fit. This might also be the time to consider a fresh coat of deck sealant. You'll need to venture underneath the deck to make sure the structures are in good shape and free from insect infestation or damage.

Taking the time to do these tasks now will help prevent problems and keep your indoor and outdoor living and entertaining humming all summer long. Whether you are planning large parties or just want to spend some warm nights under the stars, you'll be glad you took the time to cross these maintenance items off the list early.