Prepare Your Home For Summer
Summer will be here before you know it, and you know what that means: Heat, bug invasions and yard work. Now is the time to prepare your home for Summer and then enjoy the season when it finally arrives.
Where to get started inside:
- Service the air conditioning. Nothing can ruin your day like a broken air-conditioning unit on a summer day! Let’s keep it running smoothly by servicing it every year around this time. Plus changing the filter every three months will work miracles as well.
- Flush out drain lines with a cup of bleach, and ensure that the outdoor unit has room to breathe by keeping vegetation about an arm’s length away.
- If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, now might be a good time to invest in one. You may also consider a smart thermostat, that does the thinking for you to save energy and keep you comfortable. One more step to a smart house.
- Rotate ceiling fan blades. Your ceiling fan may have a switch that changes the direction in which the blades turn. If so, make sure that the blades are spinning counterclockwise and pushing air down, rather than up.
- Clean behind appliances. Everyone puts this off for as long as they can. We are all terrified of the horrors that await in the nooks and crannies of our kitchen. Now is the time to put on some gloves, arm yourself with a disinfectant cleaner and clean with a brave face.
- Clean dryer vents. Check if the vent is clogged with lint. Not only is it wasting energy but it could pose a significant fire risk. To do it right the first time, purchase a vent-cleaning kit. Its flexible rod and brush attaches to your drill and will extract a puppy-sized mass of lint in no time. You might have a vacuum attachment that could help so the trick too.
Where to get started outside:
- Patch your lawn. If you wait too long to plant new grass seeds or sod, aggressive weeds will happily fill the gaps for you. Luckily, grass will quickly establish if you remove all existing weeds beforehand.
- Remove leaves and twigs and de-thatch dead grass with a metal rake. Ask for help choosing the right seed at a garden center, then apply it to bald patches or anywhere you want a thicker lawn.
Fix the sprinkler. Check for any winter damage, including broken heads and cracked pipes, by running your sprinkler one zone at a time. Any bubbling or geyser-like area needs a new head.- Get your mower up and running. Give your mower, string trimmer, and other lawn equipment some TLC before the summer mowing season begins. After fixing your equipment and sharpening blades, give your equipment a good cleaning.
- Clean the grill. Prevent flare-ups and cooking fires by giving your grill a good cleaning. Ideally, everyone should clean their grill after every use, but if you don’t, you can start fresh with a grill brush, nozzle, and wet rag.
- Now is also a good time to stock up on charcoal and make sure your tools/utensils are ready for grilling season.
- Wash the cushions. Most outdoor fabrics are safe to throw in a warm wash. If the fabric or cushions aren’t removable or safe to throw in a washer, clean it using a soft scrub brush, dish soap, and warm water.
Be Preventative!
- Prevent Bugs. Firstly and most importantly, make sure everything is properly sealed. Check the caulking around your windows and doors, then fix any drafts or gaps with new weather stripping and caulking. Spray your outdoor perimeter with a pesticide, along with
baseboards, sinks, windows, and doors. Keep those pesky things out!
Getting ready for Summer entertaining is also a must for some, so -Get Organized -Stock up on essentials -Dress up Outdoor space. Whatever you need to have a smooth time, write a list and get it done.
There are probably many more things you can do to plan and prepare, but start with these so you’re ready to relax and make a summer full of great memories!
Still looking for that perfect Summer home? Contact me today and I can help you now!