Summer is a time of slow days, barbeques, and endless sunshine, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to let your home maintenance routine take a vacation. While you’re super busy jampacking those extra long days with plenty of outdoor activities, it’s always a good idea to make sure your home is up to task and ready to welcome you back indoors after a long adventure. To make sure you’re fully prepared for any problems that come up, here’s our comprehensive summer home maintenance checklist.
1. Preparing Your Summer Home for Optimal Comfort
Summer is the season of outdoor living and nothing makes soaking in the sunshine easier than having a comfortable home to come back to. Here are some top tips to help you make the most of your summer home and get it ready for optimal comfort.
- Clean and declutter: Start by giving your home a thorough dust and vacuum – this will help circulate the air and make your home more inviting as the summer months set in.
- Control the temperature: Nothing is more uncomfortable than having to battle stuffy rooms and harsh temperatures. Invest in the right air conditioning unit or cooling system and make sure your home is at the optimal temperature.
- Reorganise the furniture: Maximise the power of summer breezes by organising your furniture to take advantage of them. Rearrange your couches and armchairs so that the air can flow.
- Bring the outdoors in: Harness the joy of the season by incorporating natural elements into your decor. Try outdoor cushions, vases of fresh flowers or even DIY water features to bring a little of the outdoors in.
Lighting: Use this season as an opportunity to update your lighting fixtures to make your home light and bright. Install dimmers and ambient lighting to create the perfect ambience for any summer evening.
2. Anticipating Common Home Maintenance Needs
Living in a home is a wonderful thing, but it also takes up time and resources in the form of maintenance. To keep your home in good condition, anticipate home maintenance needs and take steps to take care of them. Here are a few common home maintenance needs to look out for:
- Gutter Cleaning – blocked gutters can lead to serious foundation and roof damage. Clean gutters regularly to prevent overflows from debris.
- Window Caulking – caulk around windows is an effective seal to keep out cold air in winter, as well as unwanted moisture or insects during other seasons.
- Painting – regular fresh coats of paint not only spruce up a home, they protect it from weather and UV damage.
These are just a few of the most common home maintenance needs, and there are plenty more to keep an eye on. Pay attention to how your home is performing, and consult experts such as roofers or plumbers if any problems arise. Staying on top of your home maintenance needs now will save you a lot of time and money in the future.
3. Utilizing DIY Solutions to Keep Your Home in Tip-Top Shape
Maintaining your home can be a costly and time consuming endeavour, but there are certain solutions that you can implement yourself without breaking the bank.
DIY maintenance solutions are becoming increasingly popular amongst homeowners. If you’d like to get a jumpstart on your home upkeep, here are some great options:
- Create a cleaning checklist and stick to it. Keeping your home clean is essential for preventing dust and dirt from accumulating. Designate a day of the week to tackle all of your cleaning to-dos, so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.
- Periodically inspect your appliances. Broken fixtures, faulty wiring, and malfunctioning machines can all become a nightmare if they’re not addressed on time. Set aside a few hours every few months to give your appliances a checkup and catch any problems before they become serious.
- Tend to your garden. Keeping your lawn mowed and your plants trimmed and fertilized will greatly improve the look of your property. Gardening is a great way of keeping your outdoor space healthy and looking good.
- Find places to save energy. Check your fridge and stove for any faulty components, and also inspect the walls and windows for air leaks. Sealing these spots up and replacing aging fixtures can help you save on energy bills and make your home more sustainable.
Making use of DIY solutions is a great way to save money while taking charge of your home maintenance. Allocate a few hours of your week to tending to potential problems around the house, and you’ll have your home looking its best in no time.
4. Examining Essential Summer Home Safety Protocols
When the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining, you want to spend as much time as possible outdoors soaking up the warmer months. But before embarking on your summer activities, it is important to make sure that you and your home are protected.
Keeping your family safe while enjoying the summertime requires a quick review of essential home safety protocols. Here are four steps that you should take each season to ensure that your home stays safe and secure:
- Inspect outdoor activities – Before beginning any outdoor activities, like a barbecue or campfire, you should inspect the area for any debris that could cause a fire or injury.
- Secure windows and doors – Leaving doors and windows open can welcome in unwanted guests or let pet escape, while damaged locks can put your home at greater risk. Be sure to check all windows and doors monthly and make any necessary repairs.
- Eliminate clutter – Removing any items that are blocking entryways or potentially hazardous is essential. Annually clean out your garage and shed and the areas around them to make sure they stay safe.
- Children’s safety – Finally, if you have children, make sure there are no dangerous items within their reach and they are supervised at all times.
Taking the time to implement these four steps will ensure that your family and your home remain safe and protected during the summer and beyond.
5. Protecting Your Property Against Extreme Weather
Extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, extreme heat, and strong winds can take a toll on your property. To ensure you, your family, and your belongings are not affected by these conditions, it’s important to take the proper precautions. Here are some tips to protect your property against extreme weather:
- Check Your Roof: Make sure your roof is in good condition. If you notice any missing, cracked, or broken shingles, contact a professional roofer.
- Trim Trees: High winds can cause trees to become uprooted, which could severely damage the property. To avoid this, maintain trees by regularly trimming them so they have less of a chance to fall.
- Secure Loose Objects: Secure any loose outdoor items such as furniture, children’s toys, and decorations that could be affected by strong winds or heavy rains.
- Waterproof Your Property: Apply waterproof sealant to the exterior of your home and other structures such as garages and barns to protect them from water damage.
- Inspect Gutters: Clogged gutters can cause water accumulation which can damage the foundation. Be sure to inspect and clean your gutters regularly.
Taking precautionary measures to protect your property against extreme weather is essential. Regularly inspecting and maintaining your property will help ensure you, your family, and your belongings are safe and secure.
6. Maintaining Peace of Mind During Your Summer Vacation
Summer vacation is the perfect time to relax and unwind. However, it can also be a source of stress if you’re not mindful of how you’re spending your free time. Keeping your peace of mind should be a priority whenever you’re taking some time off, and here are some tips to help you out:
- Change Up Your Surroundings – Switching up your scenery can do wonders for your mood. If you’re able to, look into taking a road trip, hopping on a plane to an exciting destination, or going on a camping trip. Even taking a staycation in a different part of the city you live in can be a refreshing change.
- Set Aside “Me Time” – Maintaining a little bit of structure and routine during your vacation is important. Even if it’s just an hour a day, make sure to create some time for yourself to read, listen to music, or just close your eyes and relax.
- Spend Time Doing Something You Enjoy – A great way to feel relaxed is by engaging in activities that make you feel happy. This could be spending time in nature, writing, drawing, or other creative endeavors. Spending quality time with your family and friends is important too – so don’t forget to take some time to be with the people you care about.
Remember, vacation is all about taking a much-needed break from the real world and taking a break from stress. So if you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed or tense, take a deep breath and practice self-care. When it comes to achieving peace of mind, it’s important to take things one step at a time and take it easy.
With these tasks on your checklist, you’re well on your way to a happy and comfortable summer in your home. Now you can rest assured that nothing has been overlooked and that you’re ready to enjoy the season ahead.
