Home maintenance tasks performed regularly can protect both internal and external damage to your house. These may include checking for drafty cracks in walls, insulating water pipes in crawl spaces or attics and draining and cleaning outdoor sprinkler systems before winter arrives.
Other seasonal tasks to complete this year are revising your family emergency plan and testing all GFCI outlets in kitchens and bathrooms in order to prevent electric shocks or fire hazards.
Spring
Springtime is the season to freshen up and revitalize any home, including yours! Whether it’s time for major renovation or just wanting a change, there are simple updates and cleaning projects anyone can undertake to spruce things up a bit and feel refreshed about their property.
Gutter cleaning is one of the most essential Spring maintenance tasks. Doing it regularly ensures your gutters function effectively and direct water away from your house, eliminating pools of standing water that could compromise its foundation and cause costly structural damage.
If you own a wooden deck, fence, trellis or pergola this spring it would be wise to reseal or stain it – doing so will extend its lifespan while making it look more appealing and prolong its life. Also this spring would be the ideal time for weeding, mulching and thatching your landscaping, in addition to testing GFCIs and electrical systems for issues as these items can often go ignored until they stop functioning correctly.
Summer
Summer is an ideal time to tackle larger home projects, such as staining your deck or installing new mulch in your yard. In addition, now is an excellent opportunity to trim bushes and trees and get your HVAC system serviced.
Cleaning your garbage disposal and dishwasher regularly is another good practice to get into the habit of doing. Baking soda mixed with hot water is often all it takes to eliminate unpleasant odors in your kitchen.
Think of the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” when it comes to home maintenance. By performing regular home maintenance tasks in all seasons, you can prevent damage and save money later on. Just don’t forget to book professional help for larger home projects as their schedules often fill quickly in summer – especially for landscaping and home repair work! The earlier you get on their schedules the better the outcome will be!
Fall
Fall is the ideal time for scheduling the inspection and service of heating systems (furnace, boiler, heat pump) before winter hits. In addition, other gas appliances like dryers and stoves should also be serviced at this point in time.
Draining sprinkler systems and installing frost covers on outdoor water spickets will help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting in winter, and sealing any cracks around windows and doors or entry points for cable, telephone or electrical wires with caulk is another great preventive measure.
Damaged driveways, walkways and steps present an ever-present risk, making winter even more treacherous than usual. Repairing them now could save both time and money in the future. Also on every homeowner’s to-do list should be switching out batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice annually; making the task less cumbersome before winter arrives.
Winter
As winter nears, it’s vitally important that your heating and cooling systems are prepped to handle its harsh temperatures. Get them serviced by a certified air-conditioning and heating business to prevent breakdowns that leave you without heat or water.
Check exterior doors and windows for signs of damage or drafts, sealing cracks and holes to stop pests entering. Inspect the state of gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent them becoming clogged up with leaves and debris, which could pose an imminent danger.
Cleaning out your kitchen drain and garbage disposal regularly is essential to maintaining their proper operation. Food particles that clog these appliances create an offensive sludge that smells bad, attracts pests and may even cause corrosion of components underneath it. Also remember to change out batteries in smoke/carbon monoxide detectors regularly; this task may seem simple enough but could save lives in an emergency situation!
