Tips for home maintenance during the summer

Summer maintenance checklist:

1. Clean or replace filters and grills. Replace furnace filters, clean return air grills, kitchen hood vents, etc. Items such as these should be done on a quarterly basis. Replacing and/or cleaning filters keep equipment working at optimum efficiency and flow while preventing stress to the point of failure.

2. Have your roof inspected. If your roof is more than 10 years old, it’s time to have it checked for damage.

3. Adjust doors and tighten loose handles. Temperatures and humidity influence the functionality of doors and handles. In the summer, moisture, and humidity can cause doors and handles to expand and stick, and, in the winter, drier and colder conditions cause doors and handles to shrink and loosen.

4. Check your windows, screens, storm windows, and doors. Make sure they close and seal properly.

5. Inspect showers and tubs, and replace caulking if required. Inspecting showers and tubs and replacing broken or missing caulk prevents water from seeping into walls where it remains hidden until water damage has taken hold. A $6.95 caulk replacement is preferable to a $695 repair for moisture damage behind the walls.

6. Check your landscape. Make sure trees and shrubbery are not rubbing or touching the roof or sides of your house because they could cause damage during a storm.

7. Do an exterior visual inspection. Look for any issues that needed to be corrected before the fall season. When weather conditions are favorable, it is easier to inspect for problems with decks, roofs, gutters, mortar, or foundation cracks, and warmer temperatures are also favorable for making repairs. In cold weather materials like roof shingles can become brittle.

8. Inspect gutters and downspouts. Make sure they’re clear of debris and are secure and drain properly; add gutter guards or screens to help keep debris out.

9. Check the grade around your house. Make sure the ground is sloped away from your house and downspouts flow away from your foundation to prevent water from seeping into your home.

10. Do a safety inspection. Clean out your dryer vent, check your washing machine hoses, and check fire extinguishers and your toilet supply line, which are important checklist items from a safety point of view. Washing machine hoses are under considerable pressure all the time. If they are old and need to be replaced, a simple inspection can prevent a major water/house flooding situation.

11. Check out your attic. Inspect and add attic insulation. It should be R-38 or better in this area. Make sure your attic is well-ventilated; it will prolong the life of your shingles and reduce attic heat and moisture.

12. Consider pressure washing. Pollen, dirt, and environmental factors take a toll on the exterior of a home. Pressure washing siding, windows, masonry, walkways, brick, and flagstone patios prevents environmental chemicals from breaking down mortar, paint, seals, and joints, which protects a home from moisture leaks.