6 Simple Summer Maintenance Tasks that Help Save Money

While warmer weather is underway there are some great home maintenance tasks to tackle this summer that could help you save money in the long run. These tasks are great to get done while the weather is good and the time is right. Some of these tasks could even prevent much larger fixes and save a large amount of cash.

Power washing or pressure washing

Pressure washing areas like siding and walkways of your home increases the curb appeal and helps to eliminate items that can cause damage such as moss coverage. Pressure washing is a great way to instantly increase curb appeal if you are preparing to sell your home as well. Homes with curb appeal are known to sell for higher prices.

Check-in on the Air Conditioner

If you have an air-conditioning unit it is optimal to have it checked by a professional twice a year. Ideally, this is done when you plan to close it up for the season as the weather gets colder and again when you plan to start it up as spring and summer bring in warmer weather. In between maintenance check-ups you also want to periodically look for any leaks.

You should make sure all vegetation around the outside unit is cut back so that it is not in contact with the unit. Additionally, you want to make sure you are changing out the filter every three months.

Weather Seal Those Windows

Often homeowners think of making sure their windows are airtight( and all of the exterior doors) in the winter so that they are not spending more money on heating a home that cold air is rushing into.

You want to make sure that your windows and doors are sealed and caulked properly to help trap cold air into your home. This will help reduce the efforts of your air conditioner or the need for running fans if you do not have air conditioning. This in turn saves a good amount of money on electrical bills.

Make Sure Fans are Counterclockwise

If you have ceiling fans make sure that they are properly helping you rotate that cold air throughout your home by being set to a counterclockwise rotation. In the winter you want to set them clockwise so that they can help to distribute warm air throughout the home.

A properly set ceiling fan can work on its own to cool the house or in partnership with a cooling system or other fans and help to reduce those energy costs.

De-Thatch the Lawn and Trim Landscaping

We all know landscaping is a needed task when the weather becomes warmer. Two of the most important tasks you can do for your landscaping are to dethatch your lawn and trim your landscaping. You want to make sure that your landscaping is in top shape especially your lawn so that you do not have to spend more money to get it back to health.

Additionally, homes with well-manicured landscaping are more appealing to buyers and as such received more attention which results in faster sales and higher offers.

Check out the roof and the gutters

Now is the time to make sure that the roof shingles and the gutters are in good working condition. When looking at the roof you want to make sure that there is no storm damage or missing shingles. For the gutters, you want to ensure that they are not pulling away from the house and that all downspouts are not clogged.

Maintenance can take some time but is worth the investment when it comes to your home. Doing frequent checks on important areas and cleaning and maintaining them helps to ensure a longer useful life and helps to prevent much larger issues.

For more information on purchasing a home in Apalachicola and surrounding areas please contact us anytime.