Your house is likely the biggest, most expensive purchase you’ll ever make. Invest time and care in your house now to keep it well-maintained; you’ll save money by preventing costly repairs later.
Consistent maintenance could also cut your utility bills. Warm summer days are the ideal time to take care of these chores:
1. Check your roof. Look for and replace any missing or damaged shingles. Replace the shingles as quickly as possible to prevent any water damage to your insulation or interior ceilings and walls.
2. Clean up your yard. Grass and other plantings help control erosion. Replant dead or bare spots in your yard and fertilize the grass. Trim the bushes and rake the leaves. Look at the area around your foundation. Is the ground sloping toward the house or away from it? If it is sloping toward the house, water will pool around the foundation and could cause damage. Redistribute the dirt so that the ground will slope away from the house. Plant new trees, bulbs, or flowers.
3. Check your gutters and downspouts. Make sure that the gutters are free of
debris and are not leaking. Use a hose to test them. Make sure that the downspouts are
connected and extend at least three feet from the house, as this will help to protect your
foundation from water damage.
4. Check your windows and screens. If you haven’t already done so, remove the storm windows and replace them with screens. Replace any broken windows or torn screens. Broken windows are a safety hazard and will allow water to pool on the sill, causing damage to the wood.
5. Keep your air conditioner in good condition. Change or clean the filters on your air conditioner once a month, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Clean fan blades and grills.
6. Choose a major outdoor project, and finish it before fall weather sets in, such as painting, replacing windows, building a deck, pouring a concrete slab, etc.
7. Keep your lawn trimmed and watered. Set your mower height a little
higher for the summer. Taller grass will require less watering.
8. Drain some water out of the bottom of your water heater to remove sediment. Your water heater will last much longer if you drain some water from the
tank every couple of months to remove accumulated sediments.
9. Clean your siding. In some humid climates, mold and mildew can grow on
your siding. Eventually, that could cause damage to the siding. If you have wood siding,
check for termite or woodpecker damage. You may need to re-stain your siding or treat
it with a preservative. Replace broken or cracked siding to prevent water damage.
