Home Maintenance to Prepare Your Home for Summer

Summer is beginning to peek its head around the corner and it’s time to get your home ready for the summer heat! You should have maintenance upkeeps throughout the year, but summer is going to be our main focus in this blog. By starting your maintenance early, around mid to late May, you can bring down energy bills, improve the efficiency and life of the components of your home, and increase the overall safety of your property. Below are some ways you can help you help your home run at its best during the summer months.  

Home Exterior  

Over the course of a year, your home’s exterior can become covered with dirt, debris, dust, or even mold that makes your home lose its curb appeal. By using a power washer, you can clean off the dirt on all points of your home no matter how many levels it has. While inspecting the exterior of your home you may come across pieces of chipped, cracked, or faded exterior paint. If so, it is important to repair those quickly as fully painted homes are more protected against the elements. Inspecting your foundation is the most important task to undertake when doing your summer maintenance. If your foundation is cracked it can create an entryway for water that can lead to serious flooding.  

Gutter Cleaning  

Cleaning out your gutters is typically a job saved for the fall but when you experience high levels of rainstorms, they can knock some tree foliage down into your gutters. Gutters are designed to collect rainwater from the roof and steer it away from the foundation of the home. Clearing out your gutters is important to ensure that there is no water coming to damage the structural foundation. Did you know that foundation repairs can cost almost close to $10,000? Clogged gutters can also cause issues for your roof due to the increased weight on them. If your gutters become too full, there is a potential risk of the gutters being pulled off of your home, causing damage to the shingles of the roof and the exterior of the house.  

Windows and Doors  

It’s crucial to check your sealant on your home’s windows and doors. If there are any leaks in the sealant, you could be letting out cold air causing your energy bill to increase in the summer months and potentially letting in little bugs. When inspecting your windows, check the screens for any rips or tears. Replacing or repairing these screens will help keep debris, leaves, insects, and other animals from entering your home when you aren’t inside.   

Looking to add more home-related coverages to your policy? Talk to your local agent today for more information.