Ah, sweet summer time. Pool days, iced tea, barbecues and lush green lawns.
As is always the case, you will never run out of small projects when you are a homeowner, even during these glorious days of summer. The list may be a little shorter during the summer, but all of it still matters. So without further adieu, here are some things you should be keeping up with around those camping trips and days at the lake.
EXTERIOR
- Time for power washing. With warmer temperatures allowing your home to dry more quickly, it's a good time for a high pressure wash to rinse off all of that dirt, pollen and debris from teh spring..
- Longer days means more hours of gazing outside. Best to do so through clean windows and screens, so take a few hours to wash windows and screens (inside and out) and you won't regret it.
- Stain or paint fences and decks. This can turn into a big job, so you might want to get some help, but if you're going to be outside there's no better time to freshen up fences and decks with a new coat of paint or stain.
HVAC
- No matter what time of year, you'll always want to change your furnace filter. Some inspectors recommend you do it monthly, you certainly should do it at least once a quarter. All that air being pulled through your intake vents is circulating right through your HVAC system, so this is especially critical if you have pets.
- Also remember to verify that your humidifier is turned off in the summer. Humidifiers are designed for dry, arid climates, and in Colorado it/s generally much dryer in winter than in summer.
ROOF AND GUTTERS
- Walk the perimeter of your home and visually examine the roof. Look for loose or lifted shingles or flashing. Also, this is the time of year when wasps and hornets are most active. Removing small nests promptly will prevent them from become large nests later.
LAWN AND LANDSCAPING
- Check sprinkler heads for spray patterns, look for dead spots in the lawn. Lawn mowers can bump up against sprinkler heads, so can kids playing in the yard. Watch your sprinkler system cycle through all zones and make corrections as necessary.
FIXTURES AND APPLIANCES
- Reverse ceiling fan blades to make sure they are pushing air down in the summer, clean the blades to get rid of that excess dust.
- Rotate and flip mattresses to prolong their life. (And don't forget to wash the sheets while you're at it!)
WATER AND PLUMBING
- For increased energy efficiency, it's okay to turn your water heater settings down a notch or two during the summer. Maximum water temperature from an open faucet or shower head should be about 120 degrees, but who wants to take a 120 degree shower in the summer?
MISCELLANEOUS
- Ensure your fireplace damper is closed as insects may nest in your chimney and this will keep them out of the house.
- Also wash and rinse all doormats and outdoor rugs.
Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll add it to the list.
Otherwise we'll be out back in the hammock with a good book and an ice cold lemonade!
