3 Areas of Maintenance that require your attention before endless BBQ’s, gatherings, and vacation fill your calendars.
We wait all of winter and spring for the first day of summer, and we get excited about spending most of our time outside at BBQ’s, gathering with friends and family, 6 hr long beach days, hiking, etc. Each year a new vacation adventure hits the calendar, kids gear up for summer camp, and the pina coladas flow like a stream in that quiet brooke at the cabin. So add a little extra ‘RELAXING’ to your list and take a peek at these 3 areas of maintenance to make sure your house is also on board the ‘VACATION’ train.
1. Check All Things Cool: AC, Fridge & Ceiling Fan
Check your AC: Before the heat wave finds its way to your area, run your AC for 30 mins to make sure its cooling properly. If the heat wave turns up earlier than you expected, help preserve your system by changing the temperature 2-3 degrees at a time. Call in a professional HVAC company if anything seems off, or not working properly. You will want them to diagnose and repair any issues early on. The last thing you want is to be on waitlist for an appointment or to be waiting on parts when everything and everyone around you seems to be melting at a rapid rate!
Check your Fridge/Freezer: A quick check and clean of the condenser coils will go a long way. The condenser coils keeps the unit cool, by releasing heat from the compressor. Be sure to sweep or vacuum up the dirt, pet hair, and any food and debris that has accumulated over the winter months in the area. This will help keep your fridge/freezer humming along.
Ceiling Fans: Clean and dust your ceiling fans and check for any wobbling. Tighten any loose screws and make sure your ceiling fan is still balanced. Some fans need lubrication from time to time to keep it running smoothly. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on how-to, and how-often you need to do this.
2. Think WATER: Waterproof, Water Flow (Sprinkler System) & Water Fun (Pool Ph)
Waterproof: The warmer weather can also welcome in the rain, and some not so nice rainstorms that result in unwelcome flooding and water damage. Walk around your house and look for any cracks or holes in the foundation. Seal these up while the weather is dry. Clear away any debris in your gutters and eaves trough that has accumulated in the previous seasons. Make sure your eaves are taking the water away from your home and not to it. Lastly, check your roof for any damaged, warped or cracked shingles. Have a professional roofing company give you a quote if you do.
Water Flow: If you have an irrigation system, be sure to test it and make sure its working properly. You don’t want to damage all of the beautiful landscaping you just spent all of May planting and laying down. Look out for standing water. You certainly don’t want to have too much of it. Standing water is an invitation for mosquitoes to breed. Finally, optimize your summer use of water by programming your system. This will save you on your water bill and will keep your landscaping looking fresh.
Water Fun: If you have a pool, you will want to take advantage of of every summer minute to jump in and share a few splashes with the kids! You will want to remove the plugs, clean up the baskets, top up the water level and test the pH levels. Once you have found that perfect chemical balance (you may need a pro to help you with this) its time to run your pump. Run the pump daily 1 hr for every 10 degrees of heat in the water to avoid the swampy green look.
3. Don’t Let Bugs Bug You!
Ants, spiders, creepy crawlies are all trying to escape the blistering heat too. Having said that, summer is when bugs thrive! You can prevent them by making their home in your home by ensuring your house is sealed properly. Start with your windows and doors and deal with any cracks or gaps. If the problem persists, hire a professional pest control company to put an appropriate plan in place.
Now that that is all looked after, you will find maintenance throughout the summer takes less time, which will add hours to the fun waiting to be had.