Put Your House in Order
Your Summer Maintenance Guide
By Fresh YQR Staff
Just like your vehicle, your house needs regular maintenance to stay in good repair. Plus, the required TLC changes with the seasons. As summer is here, now is the time to check out your house for anything that isn’t up to snuff and might need a fix. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—and that goes for houses, too.
1. Check for unsafe spots. Take a trip around the house and yard and look for issues that are unsafe or could cause an accident. Watch for things like uneven or loose patio stones, sidewalk or driveway cracks, broken or cracked steps, and rotting or loose deck boards. If someone could get hurt or it could turn into a larger problem, fix it now.
2. Examine your roof. Take look (from the safety of the ground) for sagging, broken or missing shingles, cracking, leakage, damaged sealants, chimney damage, and missing or damaged caulking. If you spot anything that looks amiss, contact a local roof contractor to have a look. Dealing with roof issues early can save big money later on.
3. Clean out your gutters and eavestroughs. While you’re up there, also have a look at your soffit and facia for any potential issues. Remove the debris and consider installing rain barrels to save on water when watering the garden.
4. Inspect your home’s exterior walls from top to bottom. Whether you have stucco, siding, brick, stone or any other exterior finish, make sure there is no damage or need for repair.
5. Have a look at your vents. Summer is a great time to have your vents and ducts professionally cleaned and inspected.
6. Evaluate your windows, doors, screens, weatherstripping and caulking. Clean your windows on both sides, wash your screens, and check for any caulking, frame or seal issues. Make sure window and sliding door tracks are clean, and mechanisms are in good working order. Replace any damaged or worn weather stripping to keep cool air inside in the summer, and warm air inside in the winter.
7. Get that central air conditioner clean and tidy. Typically, this should be done at the start of the season but if not, get it done now. Have your AC unit serviced by a professional to check the refrigerant, compressor, motor and controls. Have the grills vacuumed too. No matter what season we’re in, regularly change your furnace filter.
8. Look for water seepage and humidity. Peek at basement pipes for signs of condensation or dripping. If humidity is an issue, a dehumidifier can help things stay dry. Also check your outside faucets for drips or leaks and look for signs of any water seepage or cracks in basement walls or floors. If you find evidence of cracking or water in the basement, have a professional come by for a look. Basement issues are common in Regina and leaving them for years can add up to big problems and bills in the future.
9. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Install a carbon monoxide detector if you don’t already have one. Change any batteries as needed. If you’ve got a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected. Summer is a great time for this service because it’s off-season.
10. Replace any burned out outside lights and think about your home’s security. Address any issues that may make your home more vulnerable to property crime. Lock your vehicles on the driveway or in the garage. Make sure all doors coming into the house are always locked, including the door between your garage and house. Put away tools, bikes and anything else of value when you’re not using them. Property crime is often a crime of opportunity, so remove the opportunity.
Keeping your home safe and secure doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money. Staying on top of issues with regular checks can prevent bigger issues developing down the road. Best of all, Regina has plenty of professionals that can help you deal with any repairs or issues you need to take care of. Spending one afternoon having a good look around every season is worth it.