12 summertime home maintenance tips

Spring cleaning is out, summertime home maintenance is now all the rage. Okay, maybe that’s because you’ve waited too long to do your indoor and outdoor maintenance checklist. But it’s fine, we aren’t judging!

Keeping your home maintained throughout the year is important. Without regular maintenance, your home’s value can decrease and your home can slowly deteriorate.

We have come up with 12 summertime home maintenance tips to help jump-start your summer cleaning.

Indoor summertime home maintenance

Keeping the inside of your home maintained is essential for your mental and physical health. Dust allergies tend to heighten in the spring and summertime when the fan is on or the windows are open and the air is moving around.

Avoid head colds and sinus infections by regularly maintaining the inside of your home.

1. Clean windows and window sills

During the summer months, you will most likely have your windows open a bit more. Before you have them accessible, clean the inside and outside of your windows. A lot of newer windows have an awesome option to open the window so you can clean the outside from the inside.

While you are here, clean out the window sills. Over the fall and winter, your window sills most likely collected dirt, leaves, and some unwanted bugs. Spray it down with your desired cleaner and wipe the dirt away.

Pro tip: Keep mint leaves in your window sills to deter bugs from coming in through your windows. You can also spray any kind of mint oil, mist, or bug deterrent to keep the bugs away.

2. Clean AC filters

Whether you’re installing a window AC unit, or turning on your HVAC, be sure to clean or replace the air filters before you turn it on.

If you don’t clean or replace the filters, this can cause bacteria and allergins to build up inside the filter and then be dispersed into your home. If the filter is very full, it can cause a build-up of ice on the cold of the unit and cause leaks.

3. Clean baseboards

A lot of the time the baseboards in homes go unnoticed. And then when they are cleaned there is a thick layer of dust on them! Make sure to clean them every summer, if not monthly.

Repaint or retouch any chips you see while you’re cleaning. Repainting the baseboards and trim in your home will keep up the ideal appearance.

4. Reverse ceiling fans

The ceiling fans in your home have a major effect on the airflow of your rooms as well as the temperature of your home. It is also an easy way to make your home a bit more eco-friendly.

During the winter months, have your ceiling fan set to run clockwise and on the lowest setting. This will redistribute the warm air and make your heat run more efficiently.

During the warmer months set your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise and as high as you desire. This will force the air to go down creating a nice cool breeze throughout your room.

By switching the direction of your ceiling fan you can save up to 15% on your heating and cooling bills throughout the year.

5. Clean out dryer vent

One of the most common ways a house fire starts is by the lint in the dryer vent or hose catching fire. The vent should be cleaned out every time you use the dryer.

The dryer hose to the outside should be cleaned at least once every six months. Vacuum out the entire hose, usually, the hose is able to be collapsed for ample cleaning. The vent that is on the outside of your home should be vacuumed and wiped down.

By doing this you are preventing a travesty to happen, as well as bringing your dryer back to its optimum efficiency.

6. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Perhaps the most essential thing you must do inside your home yearly is checking to make sure that the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

This probably goes without saying, but this could literally save your life. Carbon monoxide is undetectable without having a carbon monoxide detector. Someone would die before knowing they were being poisoned by this dangerous gas.

Outdoor maintenance in the summer

Outdoor summertime home maintenance should not be neglected. Making sure the exterior of your home is maintained can have a significant impact on the lasting value of your home.

1. Inspect siding

Take a look at the siding on your home, it may need to be repaired, replaced, or repainted. Repairing exterior paint chips will keep your home’s siding from deteriorating.

Cracks in siding can cause rot and negatively affect your home’s structure. Take damaged siding seriously and correct the problem as soon as possible.

2. Power wash

If you haven’t ever used a power washer, you need to invest in one. I say invest instead of rent, because once you try it – you’re going to power wash everything in sight.

You can power wash the entire exterior of your home, your fencing, your walkway, your deck, your patio furniture… everything. Clean the winter dirt, any bugs, and grime that have accumulated, and get everything nice and clean for the coming summer.

3. Clean gutters

Clogged gutters are never good. They can cause damage to your roof, cause leaks, and are a great space for bugs and critters to make their home.

Protect your home’s value and keep your gutters clear and clean. Once a year is the absolute minimum number of times per year you should be cleaning your gutters, once a month will ensure that your gutters are working correctly.

4. Fill cement cracks

When cracks arise in your driveway, cement patio, or cement stairs filling and fixing them needs to be done ASAP.

If the cracks are still there in the winter, water will get in and then freeze. This will make the cracks get larger. They will continue to grow until you fill them. By filling cracks every summer you can prevent foundation problems from arising.

5. Repair and repaint fence

If you have a fence, you probably have it to keep something in or something out. Any broken boards are going to need to be fixed to retain the security you are looking for.

Repainting or restaining your fence every year can keep the lifespan of your fence long. Be sure to clean all the dirt and any rot out before you restain.

6. Pest deterrent

Take measures to keep pests out of your home by spraying the perimeter of your home with a bug barrier. These commercial sprays usually last from 3 to 12 months and keep out a host of bugs and small animals.

Home maintenance checklist

A lot of these suggestions can be incorporated into any home maintenance budget. The money you spend on summertime home maintenance will actually save you money in the long run by keeping your home in tip-top condition. For more home maintenance tips check out Your Complete Fall Home Prep and Maintenance Plan.

Contact us at Sedgwick’s temporary housing division if you are facing a disaster and need assistance. We are available 24/7 to help you find the temporary housing you need.