With warmer weather, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures and cookouts with friends and neighbors. Take advantage of the longer days to tackle basic upkeep on your home. Here are a few simple summer home maintenance projects to keep your property in great condition.
5 Home Maintenance Projects for Summer
Clean the Gutters
Maintain the gutters to keep water flowing away from your home and its foundation. Guttering channels can quickly become clogged with leaves, pine needles, and twigs, blocking water drainage from the roof. Overflowing gutters lead to roof damage, mold growth, basement flooding, and affect the landscaping around your home.
Patch Driveway Cracks
After the colder months of the year and constant freeze-thaw cycles, you might notice cracks have formed in the driveway. These cracks allow more water to seep in, causing further damage. Small driveway cracks can be repaired with a liquid crack filler available at most hardware stores. Follow the directions on the packaging to use the product. Larger areas of driveway damage will need to be repaired by a professional.
Summer Home Maintenance: Wash the Windows
Dust and grime that builds up on your windows can block 20 to 30% of the light from entering your home, making your living spaces seem dark and dreary. Clean the windows inside and out to remove dirt from the glass and brighten your entire home. A solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water is great for window cleaning. Use a clean, dry rag to wipe the glass to remove dust. Next, spray the cleaner and wipe the window clean. Dry the glass with another cleaning rag.
Improve the Front Porch
The front porch is the first thing guests notice when visiting your home. Front porch improvements make your home feel more welcoming and boost curb appeal. Clean the light fixtures, or replace them if they’re outdated. Paint the door a bold new color. Add potted plants or hanging baskets to bring life to the porch. Sweep the area or clean it with a pressure washer. Add a new welcome mat for a finishing touch.
Dust the Ceiling Fans
Homeowners are more likely to use fans in the summer. Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect in a room and help the occupants feel cooler. Before turning on the fans, use a step-stool to clean the blades. Fans accumulate dust, cobwebs, and pet dander. Using a fan with dirty blades circulates those irritants through the air. Use a vacuum cleaner with attachments, or place a pillowcase around the fan blade and carefully slide it off. The pillowcase will trap dust and dirt inside and keep debris from falling onto the carpet as you clean.
Clean your box fans to help them run more efficiently and prevent the motor from burning out. They can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner and attachments to remove dust that has built up on the grill. Disassemble the fan to clean the blades and internal components.
Aztec Home Inspections provides inspections in Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, and surrounding areas. Contact us to request our services.