Get Ready for Warm Weather With This Ultimate Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

Summer is almost here. Before it officially arrives, give yourself a chance to beat the heat by prepping your home for the coming season. If you aren’t sure where to start, you’re in luck. Below is our ultimate summer home maintenance checklist. Follow the steps described and, before you know it, you’ll be ready for the best part: summer entertaining.

Wash your windows thoroughly. Image: Roost USA Inc.

Wash windows and screens

Believe it or not, this task doesn’t begin with the glass. You want to start by cleaning the screens. Use a vacuum to bring up any loose dirt. Then, scrub each one with some dish soap and a bristle brush to remove any lingering debris. When they’re clean, set them outside to dry completely before using.

Now, tackle the windows. Make a solution that’s one part hot water and one part vinegar. Then use a sponge or squeegee to wash each window. After washing, use a rag to dry each one. Use extra caution when on a ladder for second-floor windows. Finally, replace your clean screens.

Make sure your family stays cool. Image: Borges Brooks Builders

Prep your HVAC and fans

The last thing anyone wants is to find out on a blistering hot day that their air conditioning system and fans aren’t working. Before temperatures get too high, make sure your systems are in working order.

To work on your HVAC, start by turning off the power to the unit for safety. Then remove the grills protecting the system’s fan and use a refrigerator coil brush to clean out any debris that’s accumulated in the fan over winter. Replace the grills and take the time to either clean or change the system’s filter. Finally, look over the coils for any signs of fraying or obvious wear and tear before testing the system. If needed, call in a professional to make any larger system repairs.

After you’re done, prepping your fans is a much easier task. For this, you simply need to take a ladder and a rag to dust off your fan blades. You may also want to locate the fan’s spin direction switch to ensure the blades are spinning counterclockwise. This will push cool air downward and help you save on energy.

Boost curb appeal. Image: Terracotta Design Build

Freshen up your exterior

Next up, take a look at your home’s exterior. It should shine in summer. Upon inspection, if there are any signs of rot or damage from the winter, repair those spots first or bring in a professional to do so. Then, power wash the exterior to get rid of stuck-on dirt and debris. Lastly, look to see if your home’s paint job needs a touch-up. If so, fill in those spots on a day when you have nice weather.

Keep in mind that summer is also the perfect time to boost curb appeal. If you haven’t already, invest in a few flowers to decorate the front of your home, make sure your lawn is well cared for, and consider sprucing up your front entrance by cleaning light fixtures and investing in a fresh welcome mat.

Get your deck ready to party. Image: Randle Siddeley

Prep the deck

If you have an outdoor space like a deck or patio, now is the time to get it ready for entertaining. Start by looking for any loose boards or other signs of disrepair. Fix those first. Then, if needed, sand and restain the surface.

When the deck is in good shape, focus on the furniture. A warm, soapy rag should be all that’s needed to wipe it down after a long winter. Then, when everything is dry, put it out where it belongs and enjoy!

Give your driveway a new coat. Image: Mariani Landscape

Reseal the driveway

The final task is to reseal your driveway or give it a new coat of asphalt. To do this, start by power washing the entire surface to make sure it’s as free of dirt as possible. (If there is too much dirt, the asphalt won’t set properly.) Allow it to dry completely.

When you’re ready, fill in any large cracks or potholes with asphalt crack filler. Then, take a long-handled bristle brush and use the liquid asphalt to form a border around the bottom and sides of the driveway. Since asphalt is messy, this will give you guidelines to stay within as you work. Next, use a squeegee to spread the asphalt evenly across the entire driveway. Work in sections to avoid having the asphalt dry before you’re done.

Are you caught up on your summer home maintenance checklist? Which tasks are on your list? Share them with us in the comments.

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