Summertime To-Do’s for Your Home Inside and Out

Can your home and yard handle the summertime heat? Don’t neglect certain tasks that will protect your home and let you enjoy it to the fullest when summer is here.

Service your HVAC. Get you A/C checked out before it starts to get hot. This preventative service can help you can avoid any emergency problems.

Consider signing up for a service contract. Having a service contract with a cooling and heating company means that they will reach out to you before the change of every season. That way your system will get serviced at the appropriate time. Plus, if you do have any emergencies in the middle of the season, your service call will be a priority and move to the top of their list.

Clear away debris around your outside air conditioning unit. Make sure you don’t have shrubs, weeds or other growth too close to your unit. You want it to work properly and be as efficient as possible.

Clean and replace your air filters.  Don’t forget to do this and stick to your manufacturer’s recommendations. Your A/C unit will be working in overdrive to keep you cool, so do your part to make it work effectively. You can order air filters online to keep it simple and easy.

Summertime Fireplace Work. Believe it or not, the summer can be a great time to get your fireplace swept or to have any other work done on the inside or outside.  Since the busy time for fireplace companies tends to be in the fall, you might be able to negotiate a great discount now. Give it a shot!

Yard Work for Summer Days. Your yard should be in pretty good shape by summer but the heat can take a toll on your lawn, trees, flower beds, and pots. Water the grass and other plants in the evening when it has cooled down.

Have your trees trimmed. Summer storms and trees full of leaves with unstable branches can only bring disaster. No one wants a tree to crash though their home or hit their car. Make that appointment if you haven’t done it for a couple of years.

Check on exterior drainage systems and consider improvements. Summer means big thunderstorms due to the heat. To prevent costly water damage to your home, now is the time to make sure all of your drainage systems are operating properly and that they move water away from your home. Consider getting downspout extenders for gutters, having your landscaping slope away from your home’s foundation, or installing storm drains in your yard or even a French drain system.

Remove leaves and debris from all area drains, gutters, and window wells. Again, preventative maintenance when it comes to water overflow damage. Prevent this from happening by monitoring and continuing to clean up around your home.

Add a splash of color with some annuals that can withstand the summer heat. As you enjoy your yard, patio or deck this season, bring some color to your surroundings. Work with your local garden center to see what will thrive best in your yard, especially if you have direct sunlight or if want more low maintenance plants.

Keep Watering. As the temperature rises throughout the summer, keep watering your lawn, plant beds, and containers. Don’t water in the middle of the day with the hot sun, but do it in the early evening when it starts to cool down.

Clean, power wash or stain/seal your deck and patio. It’s still a good time to get your deck and patio power washed or cleaned. Brighten them up and make them sparkle for your summer entertaining. It’s also a good time to protect them with new stain or sealant. And, don’t forget about having your home’s siding power washed or cleaned, depending on what the manufacture recommends.

Keep mosquitos from breeding in your yard. Mosquitos love standing water – any amount! So do your part to cut down on places where they can breed. Double check for standing water in your yard and any outside containers – such as wheelbarrows, flowerpots, buckets, watering cans, garbage cans, kids’ toys. Even the little bit in your gutter drain can lead to breeding. Store items in your garage and shed as much as possible.

Make sure your door and window screens don’t have holes. A simple task you can do today! Walk through your home and check all of your screens. No one wants a buzzing mosquito nearby while trying to sleep! You can patch a screen yourself if you like … check out DIY instructions on YouTube.

Avoid having long grass to prevent ticks.  Mow your lawn regularly and remove leaves and debris, where ticks can thrive. Check yourself, your kids, and pets after being outside.

Spiff up inside or outside furniture. It’s a perfect time to strip, sand, or stain any flea market finds. You can even spray paint something a fun, bright color without worrying about the mess (still put down newspapers or covering to protect your grass or patio).

Clean windows and screens. If you haven’t done this yet, a summer morning is the perfect time before it gets too hot. Spray wash your screens with a hose and the summer sun will dry them quickly.

Remember to enjoy your summer!  Please contact me for any recommendations for service providers.