The hot summer season has finally arrived. Now, if you have endured a couple seasons of challenging weather conditions, or if you have some deferred maintenance to take care of, it is time for you to get to work. Contrary to popular belief, your home isn´t as indestructible as we would like to believe. It is prone to damages owing to several factors such as the rain, wind, and other harsh weather conditions. Have a look at our guide and fix your home before it is too late!
Ensure That Your Gutters Are Clean
If you want to ensure the proper maintenance of your home, it is imperative for you to clean your gutters on a frequent basis. Let´s be honest here—there´s absolutely no telling what kind of crud has collected in your gutter since the last time you cleaned them out. There´s no denying the fact that gutters are a pivotal component of your home´s well-being. They play an instrumental role in controlling the flow of rainwater, thereby, protecting your walls, foundation, roof, and landscape. A clogged gutter can spell doom for your home and can result in a leaky roof. And, aren´t we all too aware of what leaky roofs can do?
Perform a Deep Fridge Cleanout
It is also equally essential for you to perform a deep fridge clean-out. If you have some unidentified leftovers or expired food products in your fridge, you should chuck them out pronto! Of course, it is better to schedule your clean-out to coincide with the trash pickup for the week. When cleaning your fridge, we would suggest you to pay close attention to the coils. If the coils get dirty and dusty, they stop functioning at an optimum level, which, in turn, forces the fridge to expend more energy to remove heat from inside the unit, thereby, drastically increasing your energy bills. To clean fridge coils, you must first attach a vacuum cleaner brush on your vacuum to prevent damages to the coil.
Change The Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors
Fire is both a life-giving illuminator and a devastating thief. When it is used in a controlled environment, it can be used to cook meals, keep us warm, and illuminate our surroundings. However, when an unexpected and unwanted fire breaks out, it can cause heavy damages and potentially take our lives. If you want to be safe from an unexpected fire break out, you will need to install smoke detectors in your home. And, your smoke detectors will only be useful when they are powered by working batteries. It is essential for you to change the batteries in your smoke detectors regularly. According to reliable reports, you should change your smoke alarm batteries every six months.
Have Your HVAC Unit Serviced
We would suggest you to not only seek for help when your HVAC unit stops functioning. You should be proactive when dealing with your HVAC unit and get it serviced frequently. Units that are serviced frequently on a uniform basis have a longer lifespan and a lower incidence of breaking down. Proper maintenance of your HVAC unit ensures that it operates at peak energy efficiency. You should particularly ensure that the air vents are clear and not blocked or covered. If the airflow is blocked, your system will overwork to heat or cool. In addition to that, it is also imperative for you to replace the disposable air filters in your HVAC unit with reusable filters every three months. A clogged filter can cause your system to overwork due to the unnecessary strain. And, when that happens, the lifespan of your unit will shorten drastically.
Deep Clean Your Carpets
Aren´t dirty carpets a sore to the eyes? We are certain you´ll agree with us when we say that the carpet in your abode is a primary component of living space. Don’t you want to impress your guests with clean carpets? Obviously, there are other reasons why you should deep clean your carpets as well. You can prolong the life of your carpets by cleaning them. And, since carpets tend to trap airborne pollutants, you can easily improve the quality of air in your abode by cleaning your carpets. A deep clean can discourage the growth of allergens and bacteria in the carpet; the cleanup can also get rid of the dust mites and the bedbugs that live discreetly in your carpets.
Check Your Deck
We would also suggest you to check your deck for signs of rotting when performing maintenance work on your home. When doing that, you should also check to see if there are nails poking up dangerously. The nails must be hammered in immediately to prevent a harmful and dangerous situation. While you are at your deck, you should also identify if your deck needs sealing. How can you determine if your deck needs sealing you ask? Well, you will first need to sprinkle water on the deck´s boards. If the water beads up, your deck is in fine condition. However, if it soaks right in, it is time to reseal the deck.
Check Your Roof
No home maintenance work is complete without the proper checkup of the roofs. You should be well aware that a leaky roof can cause a lot of heavy damages. Hence, you need to pay attention to your roof and check to see if there are loose tiles or shingles, if the shingles are losing granules and are buckling and all curled, if the roof valleys are missing roof shingle tabs, if the chimney flashing has tar and roof cement or if it is missing, rusted through, and falling out etc. These are all tell-tale signs that your roof requires immediate work.