House Maintenance Tips for Longevity
Summer is an excellent opportunity to conduct preventive home maintenance projects that will keep your property in peak condition for the entire season. Industry experts provide key summer maintenance tips that will safeguard your investment and save on repair bills in the future.
Make sure ceiling fans are rotating counterclockwise to circulate air efficiently and reduce energy costs, while sealing windows and doors is another budget-friendly measure to increase comfort while simultaneously improving energy efficiency.
1. Clean the Gutters
Home maintenance may not be exciting, but it can protect the value of your property and help avoid expensive repairs in the future. By taking advantage of summer months to complete essential chores, you can save both time and money while enjoying peace of mind knowing your house is properly cared for.
As spring and summer progress, your gutters can become filled with leaves, twigs and debris that clog them. Without regular gutter cleanings, this blockage could cause water to overflow into the system and cause roof, siding and foundation damage – an easy summer chore that ensures its long term viability! Cleaning gutters is essential to the long-term wellbeing of any house.
Gutters are an essential component of your house’s drainage system, helping direct rainwater away from foundation and walls. Unfortunately, over time gutters may become damaged from rainwater pooling in them or may even collapse under their own weight – an especially serious concern in southern states that experience frequent heavy storms with strong winds that rip down trees and send debris flying.
Regular gutter cleaning not only prolongs their longevity but can also protect against pest infestation and exterior damage to your home. Standing water attracts mosquitoes and other insects as well as mold growth which poses health risks to both appearance and health.
Many homeowners neglect to clean their gutters regularly, leaving them clogged with debris and potentially leaking over time. Over time this can cause water overflow to damage roofs, siding, foundations and landscaping while creating an inviting nesting ground for mosquitoes and ticks to nest in your gutters.
Cleaning gutters is an easy summer task that can be completed over just one or two days, yet can make an enormous difference to preventing serious problems later. Aside from clearing out gutters, summer is also the ideal time to replace air filters in your HVAC system, clean or replace dryer lint filters to prevent fire hazards, update smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they’re operating effectively, or undertake larger projects that could add value or maintain it; Thompson Kane home equity loans offer funding solutions so as to prevent expensive repair expenses later down the line.
2. Inspect the Siding
Vinyl, wood, stucco or other home siding requires regular inspection and cleaning in order to avoid damage and extend its lifespan. An exterior inspection of your home can help identify issues like cracks, rotting boards loose boards rotting mold and mildew growth in certain climates – depending on this factor additional inspections or protective coating applications may be needed in your climate zone. Regular checks also help ensure the correct installation which reduces future maintenance needs and repair costs.
Inspectors recommend conducting regular inspections of the exterior of their homes to identify problems with trim and doors, particularly any signs of rotted wood that might compromise interior safety or attract insects into the home. If rotted wood surfaces, immediate action must be taken in order to protect the interior environment against potential infestation.
Your home’s exterior can take quite a beating during the hot, rainy months of summer. To protect its curb appeal and keep looking its best all year-round, take time out periodically to clean and inspect its exterior for damage or wear, as well as applying a fresh coat of paint for an attractive finish. By doing this you will increase its curb appeal while simultaneously maintaining it year-round.
Use a soft brush or cloth to carefully and safely wash your siding without causing any abrasions, while for more severe staining or buildup of dirt, mildew, or algae you can also use a pressure washer; just be sure to follow its instructions for optimal safety and effectiveness.
An important step to reduce energy waste and discourage pests is inspecting windows and doors and replacing any worn or damaged seals with fresh ones, replacing any worn seals as soon as they appear, replacing weather stripping around doors, as well as upgrading weather stripping around them for increased airtightness.
Many military families experience PCS during the summer, which makes this an excellent time to prepare their homes for renters or stage them for sale. You could also take this chance to clean and organize pantry and freezer spaces and replace batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
3. Inspect the Roof
Regular roof inspections can extend the lifespan of any home’s structure and save its owners thousands in premature replacement costs. Summer is an excellent time to conduct an internal and external visual inspection of one’s home roof to look for signs of wear such as missing shingles or moss growth, among other potential damage or wear indicators.
Homeowners should also inspect flashing at penetrations like chimneys and vents, where water leakage commonly occurs; valleys of two sloped roofs; windows; as well as attic insulation that might have become missing or damaged should also be checked regularly.
Other essential tasks to keep up with during summer include cleaning refrigerator coils to prevent overusing energy and vacuuming lint from dryer vents – these tasks will save money on utility bills while making your home more inviting for guests and residents alike.
At your property, take note of any deteriorating wood structures like decks and stairs that require repairs in order to ensure safety. Also take this opportunity to enhance the aesthetic value of the property by power washing siding, staining or painting any surfaces needing attention, power washing the siding or staining/painting any areas requiring touchup.
At home and outdoors, other tasks to keep an eye out for in the summer include inspecting outdoor furniture and appliances for signs of damage or wear and tear, resealing caulking around doors, windows and mechanicals, replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well as cleaning out garbage disposals and dishwashers before wiping down windowsills to keep dirt at bay.
Take the time to complete these simple, straightforward tasks to keep your home looking and functioning its best, according to DiClerico. Doing this work now may prevent future emergencies such as water ingress in the basement and give residents peace of mind that their home is secure; giving them time and peace of mind this summer!
4. Clean the Gutters
Even if your gutters are healthy and unclogged, taking the time to inspect, clean and clear them is vitally important. Gutter debris can clog water flow, leading to damage of roof, siding and foundation as well as seepage into your home causing water damage or mold growth.
Clogged and overflowing gutters are a frequent hazard during the hot and wet summer months, due to both increased rainfall and warm temperatures. One effective way to combat this issue is through regular gutter cleaning – specifically clearing away debris from both gutters and downspouts. You can do this using either a ladder with a scooping tool, your hands or an outside pressure washer on it to clear away larger items such as chunks of ice, leaves or sticks, otherwise use either your garden hose with pressure washer to flush away remaining debris; start from one end of the house before working your way towards another until all downspouts are clear of obstructions – starting from one end and moving towards the other ensuring all downspouts remain free of obstructions from obstructions!
Cleaning gutters during the summer is not only important for removing debris but also to check for leaks or any other problems that require attention. Clogged gutters provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, cockroaches and other bugs; furthermore, rusting or pulling away can lead to serious problems and costly repairs further down the line.
Consistent seasonal maintenance can be tedious work, but is essential to the joys of homeownership. By including summer maintenance tips into your regular routine now and going forward, these tasks will save you both stress and money later on.