Your end-of-summer home maintenance checklist

With the summer’s end rapidly approaching, it is time to check the condition of your summer home. The sweltering heat and increased humidity will cause surfaces to contract and crack, as well as the growth of mold and mildew. This is why you may want to create a maintenance checklist to ensure that your summer home is in top condition for your next visit. You may also want to consider a home warranty plan for your summer home if you want to have complete peace of mind. If you decide that purchasing the plan is in your best interest, make sure to read up on top rated home warranty reviews. However, to get the most out of your home warranty plan, you will need to do regular maintenance. And that is what this article is going to be all about, we will provide you with an end-of-summer home maintenance checklist. And we will walk you through all of the tasks, as well.

The importance of maintaining your summer home

There are several reasons why you may want to keep your summer home well-maintained. But the most important reason is that lack of maintenance will completely void your home warranty plan. There are numerous home repairs that you can do yourself which will ensure that your home is both maintained and protected via a home warranty. Another reason is the fact that you don’t want any problems to escalate. A small gap in a window, for example, can easily preclude a much larger problem. Therefore, before you leave your summer home, make sure that you fix any outstanding issues. The easiest way to make sure that everything is in order is to follow a maintenance checklist.

Your end-of-summer home maintenance checklist

• Repair any gaps in the windows
• Inspect the roof
• Clean the outdoor garbage bins
• Clean the gutters
• Replace air filters
• Test smoke detectors
• Wash the dryer and washer
• Clean bathroom fans
• Protect the deck

You might also want to check your HVAC system for any problems. You can follow the instructions from our HVAC maintenance guide for an easier time of it. It is smart to start working on the tasks from the checklist as soon as you can, as you might need to hire professionals for some repairs.

Repairing window gaps

The first thing you might want to check for is any gaps in the windows. It is advisable to clean the windows first, as the gaps will be much easier to spot. Repair and seal any gaps that you spot, and perform some caulking if necessary. The end of summer is the best time to do these repairs as you want to ensure that your home can maintain the proper temperature come next summer. Having no gaps in the windows is also one of the best things you can do to protect your home from water damage. Even a small gap can let the water inside your home and cause a lot more damage. You don’t want to return to your summer home next year only to find that it was flooded at some point.

Inspecting the roof

Every single end-of-summer home maintenance checklist includes inspecting the roof. This is due to the fact that roof inspection is absolutely essential for any home, summer or otherwise. Start by performing a visual inspection by climbing up and taking a look. If you spot any spots that need repairs, either repair them yourself or contact professionals. And if everything looks to be in order, you proceed to the second stage of inspection – checking the roof for soft spots and testing the shingle integrity. Make sure to replace any shingles that are loose and scrutinize any soft spots that you find.

If you notice that all your shingles are getting brittle or falling off, it might indicate that your roof is in need of a replacement. Check the attic for any signs of additional damage. There might be ceiling stains that indicate that your roof may require extensive repairs. Repairing the roof can be quite costly, however. Hopefully, you have a good budget for home improvements and repairs and can handle the replacement if required. If not, then there’s something to think about for the next year.

Cleaning the outdoor garbage bins

As colder weather approaches, animals and rodents get more desperate. If you have any traces of food around your summer home, animals will smell them from far away. That is why it is imperative that you clean your outdoor garbage bins before you leave. Remember to hose off the bins as well. By removing any temptations, you will make sure that the critters do not make a lair near or in your summer home.

Cleaning the gutters

Another mainstay in every end-of-summer home maintenance checklist is gutter cleanup. Gutter debris has the potential to create large (and very expensive) problems, after all. What you need to do is go around your spouting/gutter system and remove any debris such as leaves, brambles, and seeds. You may also want to run a hose through the entire system just to check if everything works as it should.

If you find any leaky areas, you might want to call a professional immediately. Cleaning the gutters is so important that you might want to do it twice, once when performing an initial summer home inspection and maintenance, and once at the end of the summer. You might also want to improve the system by adding gutter guards or by installing seamless gutters.

Replacing air filters

It is quite easy, as well as affordable to replace air filters. By doing this, you will considerably prolong the life of your HVAC system. The only “catch” is that you need to know which filters to purchase. The best thing to do if you are unsure is to contact an HVAC professional and simply ask. If your system requires extensive repairs, you may want to have them done by a licensed maintenance company.

End-of-summer home maintenance checklist – Testing smoke detectors

Another very important feature of your home is the simple smoke detector. These devices prevent you from carbon monoxide poisoning but they need to be in optimal working order. Therefore, make sure that you test each and every smoke detector inside your summer home, replacing the batteries as necessary. And if you don’t happen to have smoke detectors, you will want to install one in all the major areas of the home such as the kitchen and bedrooms. Every floor should have at least one smoke detector.

Washing the dryer and washer

During the summer, it is very easy to end up with a washing machine that is full of sand. Not only will this make your clothes less than clean after using these appliances but they can also compromise the integrity of the machines. That is why you will want to add washing the dryer and washer to your end-of-summer home maintenance checklist. The cleaning process is quite easy, all you need to do is wipe off any grit and sand from inside the rubber seal and the drum. After that, simply utilize a washer cleaning product and run the washer while empty.

Cleaning bathroom fans

Your bathroom fans work harder in the summer due to additional humidity. And that means that they might need some help to stay in optimal working conditions. The process of cleaning bathroom fans is exceptionally simple, all you need to do is remove the covers and vacuum any dust and grime beneath them. This will prevent any further damage to the fans and allow them to work in peak conditions.

Protecting the deck

Lastly, if your summer home has a deck, make sure that is free of any debris. You will also want to thoroughly clean the deck boards and apply a sealant stain. Of course, make sure to remove any deck furniture prior to this. While you are cleaning the deck, be on the lookout for any loose fittings and joints, as well as for any curling. Protecting the deck on the first floor is something that you can do on your own but if you have a deck on the second floor, you may want to call in a professional. The reason for this is the fact that you might not be qualified to inspect the posts and joists that are underneath the deck.

You may also want to add numerous other tasks to your end-of-summer home maintenance checklist. The more maintenance work you can do, the better. For example, you may also want to check sidings, replace weather-stripping on exterior doors, store your awnings properly, etc. But the abovementioned tasks are absolutely critical.

You can find even more information about summer home maintenance by browsing the Consumer Opinion Guide. Our staff is there to provide you with tips and tricks that can make summer home maintenance much easier.