Considering this is DFW, you've probably turned on your air conditioning by now. Here's hoping it worked and didn't give you any trouble. Of course, air conditioning tends to break when it needs to be cranking to keep your home cool with outside temps above 90 degrees.
A well-maintained home will run into fewer problems. You go to the doctor for an annual physical exam or take your car in for inspection once a year to make sure everything remains in working order and to fix problems before they spiral.
Summer home maintenance can help prevent things from going wrong especially at the worst time possible. Here are six tips from
DFW home builder Sandlin Homes to ensure your home is summer-ready for the lazy days of summer.
1. Tune up your air conditioner
This is the most important one as it'll reduce the chances of your AC going wonky when it's 90-plus degrees outside. Not only does maintenance keep your air conditioning running, but also it prevents your electric bill from going up. Considering summer already does a number on your electricity bill, you don't want AC issues to drive it up higher.
Homeowners may have a maintenance agreement with an air conditioning and heating business. Typically, it includes two maintenance sessions: one in the spring when you're about to turn on the AC and one in the fall before you turn on the heater.
Also replace your air filter on your AC. This is best done every one to three months to help it run more efficiently.
2. Inspect the roof
You don't want your home caught off guard when the next big rain hits. By summer time, Dallas-Fort Worth will have already had heavy rain and hail. Weather isn't the only thing that can damage a roof. The sun's ultraviolet rays and winter can too.
Every year, you'll want to inspect your roof shingles to see if any are damaged, loose, or missing. Replacing a few roof shingles costs less time and money than leaving them unrepaired. If a roof doesn't get shingles replaced, then it leads to leaks which leads to bigger, more expensive problems.
The roof also needs to be inspected for cracked caulk, masses of moss and lichen worn rubber boots, and rust spots on flashing.
3. Clean gutters and downspouts
Clogged gutters could cause leaks and water in the basement or crawl space. Downspouts need to drain away from the foundation and not have any debris. The general recommendation is to clean them twice a year. One during late spring or early summer to clear any blown-off flowers and seeds. And again in the late fall or early winter for fallen leaves.
4. Check seals and stripping on windows and doors
Any leaks in the windows and doors bring the outside temperatures in. And that'll cause your AC or heater to work overtime. Check the sealants on both the inside and outside. Caulk open areas and replace weather-stripping if needed.
5. Refresh the exterior
Chipped and peeling paint can expose wood, which leads to rotting. Use a pressure wash on the exterior and look for paint problems. Before pressure washing, cover plants, windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Scrape off chipped and peeling paint. Once done, add touchup paint to exposed surfaces.
6. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
The rule of thumb is to check your detectors when daylight saving time begins and ends. Ensure the detectors have fresh batteries, remain free of dust and debris, and test the alarm. Even if you have hardwired detectors that don't need battery replacements, you'll want to test them and verify the backup battery still works.
Summer home maintenance can stave off future headaches and pricey repairs. They'll take a day or two to complete. In the long run, any action you take can prevent your utility bills from climbing. If you need help, professionals can take on some of these activities for you.
Here are other tips from Sandlin Homes, a DFW home builder, that you might find useful:
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