Spring & Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
When is the last time you gave your home a little TLC? Once the weather starts shifting to warmer temps, many of us get the productive itch. Overall, seasonality can be a friendly reminder tackle a Spring and Summer home maintenance checklist. There’s more to do around your home aside from letting in fresh air, deep cleaning your fridge, and organizing some closets. Home repairs and fixes tend to pile up over the winter months, making Spring the most ideal time to play catch up.
We’re sharing a common Spring and Summer home maintenance checklist you’ll want to pay attention to! If you’re pressed for time and need help, booking a handyman with Fixer is easy. Additionally, we offer a popular membership plan that will automatically tackle seasonality tasks on routine visits throughout the year. So you don’t even have to think about what to do for your home, or who to hire!
Inspect Windows, Doors, and Screens
Inspect the weatherstripping around your doors for any damage, tears, cracks or repairs needed. Taking care of any problem areas right away can prevent more costly issues down the road.
Check your windows for any signs of water damage or broken seals. If you’re not sure how to tell if your window needs to be fixed or replaced read our previous blog post, 5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Windows, to learn more. Want to know one of the easiest ways to extend the life cycle of the windows in your home? Clean them! Really, that’s it! Clean all parts of your windows, including the glass, casing, and surrounding walls to reduce dirt and dust build-up.
Spring and Summer are also great times to check over your window screens before removing or opening your windows. To avoid unwanted bugs or pests coming in you’ll want to repair any holes. If a screen needs minimal fixing we recommend this screen repair tape here.
Re-Caulk Windows & Doors
In addition to the general inspection of your windows and doors, checking the condition of the caulking is an important task to note. By re-applying caulk annually it’ll help keep out heat and humidity in the summer and cold drafts in the winter. You’ll also end up saving money on your utility bills!
Clean & Organize Your Garage or Storage Unit
There are no steadfast rules on when to clean out your garage or storage unit, however, we highly recommend doing it when temperatures are mild. Depending on the undertaking you’re facing, we’d also suggest breaking the job up into manageable chunks to avoid getting overwhelmed. Also, make sure you have a couple days of good weather for pulling items out and organizing. For more tips visit our previous blog post, How to Tackle Cleaning Your Garage. If you need help installing shelving or organization systems, Fixer can help!
Un-winterize Outdoor Spigots
Once temperatures are consistently above freezing, it’s safe to get your outdoor spigots ready to use again. Remove any outdoor faucet covers, reattach your hoses, and turn the valve for the outdoor faucets back on. If spigots are loose or need repairing make sure to address this to avoid any major issues once the temperatures rise.
Power Washing
Give exterior areas of your home a nice power washing to remove any dirt and grime. Seasonal build up tends to occur on your home’s siding, fences, decks, sidewalks, driveways, patio furniture and play sets. It’s pretty epic what a good power washing can do! Fixer is fully prepared and equipped to help you get rid of the grime.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Have you been thinking of upgrading your older thermostat to a smart thermostat? Not only do they provide an easy opportunity to deliver energy bill savings, but they’ll also automatically adjust heating/cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal performance. Here at Fixer, we highly recommend making the upgrade!
HVAC System & Window Air Conditioners
It’s a good idea to service your HVAC system or portable air conditioner units to ensure they’re working properly before the hot weather hits. Replacing filters or cleaning a reusable filter should be done every few months. If you install window air conditioners seasonally, it’s a good idea to trim any shrubs around the exterior windows so they function properly.
Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The truth is, your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are some of the most important devices in your home. Although, they need some very basic routine maintenance to keep your home safe. You should have smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, and in or near each bedroom and sleeping areas.
First find out which type of smoke detector you have. They range from being powered by 9-volt batteries, wired into your electrical system, and long-lasting lithium batteries. This will determine if you need to routinely replace a battery or not. By simply pushing the test button on your device 2-4 times a year will assure they’re in good working condition or need replacement. Additionally, most smoke detectors last a maximum of 10 years. Make sure to remove your units from the ceiling and check for a date stamped on the back. You’ll need to replace the detector by this date.
We hope these Spring and Summer home maintenance checklist tasks will spark some productivity this season. If you ever find yourself needing help with maintaining your home, ask us about our Fixer membership plan! Our members never have to worry about getting their home’s to-do list done, along with completing routine seasonal maintenance. Learn more about our Fixer Membership plan here.