5 Maintenance Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Summer in 2021
Despite the trauma of the global fight against COVID-19, it is hard not to feel a little excited about summer. After all, the lockdowns in place across the globe are likely to be lifted. While you may not be having your traditional summer party, you will want to enjoy the summer sun.
That means you need to start thinking about getting your home ready today. Here are 5 maintenance tips to make sure you’re ready for the summer, 2020 style.
1. Pest Inspection
Click this link and get a great local pest control service. They’ll be around to assess your home inside and out. Part of their job is the elimination of pests. That’s a blessing if you have pests already invading your home or outbuildings.
But, they also advise on the best way to keep pests away from your home. A quick survey by them will give you all the information you need to lock down your home, allowing you to enjoy the summer and winter pest free.
There are a variety of pests that can affect your home in the summer. The exact ones will depend on where you live, although rodents, ants, termites, wasps, bees, and mosquitoes are common across the globe.
In many cases, you won’t be aware that you have an issue with these pests until significant damage is done.
That’s why it’s so important to get professional help at least once a year, and what better time than in the spring as you prepare for summer?
The professionals will spot the small gaps and cracks that allow pests in. They will advise you of the best filling material, help you place traps if necessary, and they’ll give you great advice on de-cluttering.
Remove piles of items in the home, and the yard is fundamental to enjoying the space you have and keeping pests away. Take some time today to eliminate clutter. It’s a great starting point.
2. Check The Floor
You’re heading outside to enjoy a barbeque or a few drinks, that means you need to make sure the floor is in a good state of repair. Check concrete floors and fill cracks/holes; Look at your decking and ensuring it’s got plenty of grips.
It’s a good idea to pressure wash decking and patios, especially those that don’t see much sun through the winter. This will remove the slippery mold. Decking should also be treated to ensure it lasts for many years.
You should also make sure there are no uneven surfaces that could create a trip hazard. For you and your family, it could mean a trip to the hospital. If you have a visitor, it could mean being sued for compensation. That’s not how you want your summer to go.
3. Roof
Checking and, if necessary, fixing your roof isn’t necessarily going to make your summer better. But, its the best time of year to undertake this task and make sure your home is ready for the following winter.
You should be able to inspect from ground level to spot sagging or missing ties. Of course, to complete any repairs, you’ll need to get onto the roof. You may prefer to get professional help with this.
Summer is the right time for this—the roof likely to be dry, which will improve grip when walking on it. You’ll also find that if there are any problems, your home won’t be getting soaked while you’re fixing them.
Also, roofers tend to be quietest in the summer. That means you’ll be able to get one at short notice and may even get a discount!
Don’t forget to check your gutters while you’re up there.
4. Air Conditioning Service
If you’re looking forward to the summer sun, then you’re probably thinking about how hot it will get and that you’re going to need your air conditioning unit. If you’re not thinking about it, then you should be!
Now is the time to get your unit inspected and serviced. This will allow any faults to be found and rectified. That’s better than discovering the issue when it is really hot, and you need the air conditioning unit working!
Your air conditioning unit works like a refrigerator and is fairly straightforward to maintain. However, it does have coolant liquid inside it, which can be toxic as well as under pressure. That’s why it’s advisable to get the professionals to service the system for you.
It’s worth noting that regularly inhaling cooling chemicals, often called Freons can cause respiratory issues. Concentrated chemicals hitting your skin can cause burns.
The air conditioner is a valuable piece of summer kit. For your safety and convenience, get it serviced every spring.
5. Sprucing Up
You need to take a look at the outside of your home. Spring is a great time to pressure wash the walls, especially if they’re clad. If your home is painted, you may want to wash them and give them an extra coat of paint. It will transform your home and be more pleasant to look at during the long summer evenings.
The good news is that you can do this job yourself and it doesn’t need to cost much, except for your time.
This is also a great time to take a look at your yard. It’s not just one of the first things people see when they arrive at your home. It’s also something you’ll be using regularly.
Consider the lighting outside your home. It should all work, or you may want to add more. This will help you to enjoy the warm evenings.
You should also check the condition of any perimeter walls and fences, repairing these early will help them to last longer.
Finally, it’s also a good idea to look at your plants. If you’re a keen gardener, then you may appreciate an abundance of flowers in your garden. But, if you prefer to keep it simple, eliminate the majority of them and use planters to grow a few summer flowering varieties, you’ll find it easier to maintain planters. It will also make cutting your grass simpler, giving you more time to enjoy your efforts.
In essence, you can walk around your home and yard taking notes, that will give you an idea of which jobs need doing before the summer begins.