The Latest

Summer may not have officially arrived, but the temperatures say different. Air conditioners in DFW homes have been brought to life for a few weeks already. Just like you winterize your home, you can take steps to prepare your house for the hottest time of the year. Here's your six-step summer home maintenance checklist.

1.  Service the air conditioning unit

No one wants the air conditioning to go awry especially when the temps surpass 90 degrees. An air conditioning tune-up ensures it works properly. It's bad enough summer does a number on the electric bill. A tune-up ensures the AC unit runs efficiently to use the minimum amount of electricity. Same goes for changing the AC filter every one to three months. If possible, work with a service that provides maintenance twice a year. One occurs in spring before the heat kicks in and the other in the fall before it's time to turn on the heater.

1. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Hopefully, you replaced the batteries when daylight saving time ended and do it again when it begins in the fall. If you have hardwired detectors that don't use batteries, you'll want to test the detectors to verify it works. Dust can cause the smoke detector to go off. Clear any dust and debris in the detectors. Before testing the alarm and clearing the dust, contact your security company to let them know you're conducting tests. This prevents the possibility of getting charged for any services.

1.  Do a roof inspection

Hail hit DFW homes several times already. Furthermore, other things besides hail can cause problems for the roof. The sun's ultraviolet rays and extreme temperatures can also wear down the roof. Take advantage of the warmer weather to check the roof for loose, damaged, or missing shingles. When shingles don't get repaired or replaced, it leads to bigger problems and more expensive repairs. It'll be cheaper to replace a few shingles. While checking the shingles, look for masses of moss, rust spots on flashing, and cracked caulk that need fixing.

1.  Clear gutters and downspouts

Downspouts drain water away from the foundation. They need to be clear and free of debris. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause leaks or blockages and cause flooding. Like replacing batteries twice a year, gutters need cleaning in the spring and the fall.

1.  Examine seals and stripping on windows and doors

Outside temperatures can seep out in the smallest of holes. And when that happens, it drives up the temperature inside and pushes your AC to churn out more electricity. Look at the sealants on the inside and outside for any potential leaks. Caulk openings areas and replace weather-stripping as needed.

1.  Clean the exterior

Exposed wood from chipped and peeling paint can trigger rotting. Look for paint problems on the exterior to scrape any peeling or chipped paint. Before using a pressure washer, cover windows, doors, electrical outlets, and plants. Once done with everything, do paint touchups on the exposed areas. These spring and summer home maintenance tips can keep your utility bills as low as possible and prevent expensive repairs. Devoting one weekend to these six tasks should do the trick. 

Summer home maintenance, Sandlin Homes, DFW homes