Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
With Summer just around the corner, it’s time for some annual home maintenance! To help you get started, we’ve put together a Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for homeowners.
Outdoor Summer Home Maintenance
Inspect and Pressure Wash Driveway & Walkways
Wash away the Winter dirt and grime by pressure washing your driveway and walkways. Before doing so though, it’s a good idea to first inspect these areas for cracks and refill any compromised concrete. Doing these tasks in conjunction will make your home’s exterior brighter and safer.
You can rent a pressure washing machine from your local home improvement store for $40–$100 per day on average, or you can opt to hire a professional to tackle the task for you.
Pressure Wash & Reseal Deck
While you’re pressure washing your driveway and walkways, don’t forget to also hit your deck! After the deck is fully dry, it’s time to apply a sealant to help prevent the wood from splitting or weathering. You may also consider applying a stain before the sealant to further upgrade your deck. Again, just make sure the deck is fully dry after pressure washing before applying any stains or sealants.
Wash Windows & Screens
Most of us clean our windows from the inside, but how often are we cleaning the outside? For many, the answer is almost never!
While you won’t want to pressure wash your windows, a gardening hose is safe to use for removing major dirt and grime from exterior windows. After hosing windows down, follow these steps for cleaning exterior windows:
- Fill a bucket with clean water and a few drops of dish soap, applying the solution to windows with a microfiber cloth or microfiber mop on a pole for higher windows.
- Rinse windows thoroughly with the hose.
- Spray windows with a water and vinegar solution.
- Wipe the windows dry using a squeegee.
- Don’t forget the window screens! Rinse screens with the hose, spray them with the same water and vinegar solution, rinse again, and allow them to dry before placing screens back on windows.
Inspect Fences & Outdoor Play Equipment
With warmer weather comes more outdoor time, especially for kids and animals. If you have either, it’s a good idea to inspect fences and play equipment before Summer comes around to ensure everything is safe and properly secured. For both fencing and play equipment homeowners should reinforce, re-stain, reseal, or repaint as needed.
Test Irrigation Systems
Before things really heat up, it’s important homeowners check their irrigation systems for any leaks or blockages as either can cause major issues for your lawn.
Prepare for Bugs
Like us, bugs also enjoy warmer weather, unfortunately. To help keep bugs away, spray around the perimeter of your yard and home with bug spray. We recommend using an eco-friendly option.
Additionally, throughout the Summer, make sure you’re going around your property and dumping any standing water that has collected. You’ll want to do this every couple weeks at a minimum to keep bugs at bay, specifically mosquitos as they breed around standing water, even the smallest of amounts.
On that note, if you have dogs and have fallen behind on their monthly heartworm prevention, Summer is the perfect time to start them back on their regimen. Heartworms are passed to dogs via mosquitos, so the chances of transmission are much higher during warmer months than other times of the year. Before giving your dog any heartworm prevention, be sure to first take them to the vet to ensure they don’t already have heartworms as you can’t start preventative measures without first treating current issues.
Tune Up Lawn Equipment & Tools
If you do your own lawn work, it’s important you give your lawn equipment and tools some TLC as they undoubtedly will be used more during the Summer. This will include tuning up your lawn mower and weed eater as well as sharpening any tools like gardening shears. Make sure you take safety measures while servicing these items.
Deep Clean Your Grill
Before grilling season begins, you’ll want to deep clean your grill, whether it be a charcoal, gas, pellet, or flat top grill. If you have a gas grill, you’ll also want to check hoses for cracks, holes, and blockages to ensure proper grill safety.
Pool Maintenance
If you have a pool, proper maintenance is necessary to ensure a safe and healthy swimming environment. According to the experts at swimmingpool.com, pool maintenance should cover the three C’s: circulation, cleaning, and chemistry. Let’s break down what should be included for each step.
Circulation:
- Run pool pump 8-12 hours per day
- Backwash or clean filter if pressure is above 10-15 psi
- Clean the skimmer & pump basket
- Keep jets facing circular and downward
Cleaning:
- Brush walls, steps, ladders, and other low circulation spots daily
- Skim the surface daily
- Vacuum once a week or use automatic cleaner
Chemistry:
- Test water 1-2 times per week
- Balance pH and alkalinity
- Maintain sanitizer levels
- Shock bi-weekly
Indoor Summer Home Maintenance
Seal Around Windows & Doors
Sealing around doors and windows is an easy way to limit cool air from escaping your home and warm air from entering, helping to reduce your utility bill and improve the comfortability of your home this Summer.
Have A/C Checked & Serviced
A/C preventative maintenance is critical if you want to extend your unit’s lifetime, avoid costly repairs, and live in comfort.
While an experienced or determined homeowner may be capable of conducting preventative maintenance tasks, this item is better handled by professionals. A licensed technician will know exactly how to inspect and service an A/C unit, checking that everything is functioning the way it should be and that nothing needs placing; they will also clean the unit and lubricate moving parts. Homeowners can expect to pay around $100 on average for this service.
Replace Air Filters
Replacing air filters in conjunction with A/C servicing will allow air to properly flow throughout your home, helping to extend the life of your A/C unit and lower your utility bill. You’ll also improve the quality of air flowing through vents, making your home cleaner and safer for you and your family.
Clean & Reverse Ceiling Fans
This one is easy enough! Reversing ceiling fans to rotate in a counterclockwise direction will push air downward, creating a cooler environment within your home. Simply turn off your fan and use a ladder or step stool to locate the direction switch on your fan, flipping it in the counterclockwise setting. While you’re up there, go ahead and clean off your fan blades too!
Clean Dryer Vent
Did you know the vast majority of home fires involve clothes dryers? According to the National Fire Protection Association, 92% of residential fires involve dryers with 27% of those a direct result of dust, fiber, or lint. The numbers are staggering!
To reduce the amount of lint in and around your dryer, take the time to inspect and clean your dryer’s exhaust vent this Summer. You should also be regularly removing lint from your dryer’s lint trap, ideally after each use.
Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Speaking of preventing fires and other catastrophes, it’s recommended homeowners test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and change batteries out once a year. This item is one of the easiest and most important items on the list!
Other Items to Consider
Keep Landscape Fire-Safe
If you live in an area where wildfires are prevalent, like the Pacific Northwest, you’ll want to take preventative measures to improve your home’s chances of survival in the event of a wildfire. To prepare your home, start with the home itself and move outward. See what the National Fire Protection Association says about preparing homes for wildfires.
Clean Out & Organize Garage
Summer is the perfect time to tackle a big project like cleaning out your garage. While you may have to break this task up over a few weekends, the added space is surely worth it. To increase the functionality of your garage even further, consider adding shelves or other wall organization options.
Prep Your Outdoor Patios
Make your outdoor patio the perfect relaxation or entertainment space this Summer by adding some extra shade and upgrading furniture. You may also consider upgrading your lighting or purchasing new plants.
Purchase an Air Purifier
Further improve the comfortability of your home and the health of all those who inhabit it by purchasing an air purifier to remove unwanted particles from the air in your home.
Consider Window Treatments
Adding window treatments like blinds, curtains, or shades will help to keep your home cool and comfortable throughout the Summer.
Makes Energy Efficient Home Upgrades
Go the extra mile by making some energy efficient home upgrades like adding insulation or installing a programmable thermostat. Doing so will not only help to improve the comfortability of your home, but also help you to save on your utility bill as well!
The Bottom Line
All homes require routine maintenance, and yours is no different! Use this Summer Home Maintenance Checklist to help you tackle necessary maintenance items while still maximizing your fun in the sun!
