Sweet summertime! More daylight to play in and more reasons to open a bottle of rosé on a weeknight! It is officially summer, and we want to make sure it stays “sweet” for you all season long. The summer is a great time to check off a few house maintenance items, we need to make sure our homes are ready for the heat!  

Interior/Exterior

• • Search for mold – If you see any gray or black blotches on ceilings or in crawl spaces it is a good idea to get them inspected, removed, and repair the cause.
• • Check your deck for popped nails or loose treads – we are out using our decks more, take a hammer to popped nails and inspect the wood boards.
• • Trim shrubs and plants away from HVAC units and roofline – minimize the potential for damage!

Insulation and Ventilation

• • Clean and test your dehumidifier – most of us run dehumidifiers in our basements, as it starts to heat up make sure they are working properly. We don’t want damp rooms… that could cause mold!
• • Clean your dryer vent/duct – we are not talking about the lint screen… making sure your vents and ducts are free of lint and other things ensures proper air flow to the dryer keeping them efficient!
• • Check vents for birds, squirrels, or other pest.

Water Control

• • Clean your exterior drains (e.g. stairwell) – summertime means rolling thunderstorms! Make sure all your drains are clear for proper draining to prevent wet basements.
• • Clean gutters and window wells – again ensuring proper water flow and drainage away from the house.

HVAC

• • Change your filter – ideally you should be doing this every month!
• • Hire an HVAC contractor to service your system – regular maintenance on a system prolongs the life and ensures they are running as efficiently as possible.