Home maintenance is an essential part of keeping your property safe and functional. From inspecting trees to cleaning gutters, there are a variety of tasks that need to be done throughout the year. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide to home maintenance, including seasonal tasks and tips for keeping your appliances and utilities in good condition. The Exterior of Your Home should be inspected regularly.
If you have trees on your property, it's important to have them checked by a certified arborist. They can look for signs of disease or dead branches and detect problems before they worsen and kill a tree. The untrained eye could overlook signs of damage, and a dead or dying tree represents a hazard to your safety, your home and neighboring properties. Additionally, you should check the condition of your garden hoses and replace them if necessary.
Chimney Maintenance is also important, even if you don't use it regularly. A chimney carries hazardous gases from the fireplace, wood stove, or oven out of your home, helping to keep the indoor air breathable. Your chimney should be inspected annually and cleaned periodically, depending on how often you use it, according to the United States Chimney Safety Institute.
Summer Home Maintenance
includes mowing the lawn and keeping it tidy.Place the mower in the highest position so as not to cut the grass too short and expose it to drought and weeds. Dig up the weed (this should be a weekly matter). Water dead plants and flowers that have no longer blossomed. These steps will keep your garden tidy and your neighbors happy.
If you hire a professional landscaper, check local ordinances, as some communities restrict the use of some equipment during the summer. If you have a pool, do everything you can to keep it clean. Remove the surface frequently to keep leaves and debris out of the water. Rub the sides once or twice a month to keep algae growth under control.
Check the filter basket and chemical levels weekly. And keep an eye on the water level. When pool season is over, clean, close and cover your pool during the winter or call a pool maintenance company to do the work for you.
Fall Home Maintenance
includes planting perennials such as peonies, aguillanas, or hydrangeas. Fall is also a good time to plant trees and shrubs and replant grass.Be sure to give new plants plenty of water before they go dormant, and in spring, they may bloom for the first time, depending on the variety. Plant bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths anytime before the ground freezes. Call a gutter company to clean and inspect them once the leaves fall. Any repairs that need to be made to gutters or downspouts must be done before winter sets in. Your workers should also inspect the roof for loose or broken tiles.
Schedule work before heavy snow, as it could leave leaves and debris frozen in gutters, faucets and hoses. Before the first freeze, drain and turn off outdoor faucets so that they do not freeze. Roll up hoses and store them for winter.
Winter Home Maintenance
includes having your oven and ducts repaired. A clean system will be more energy efficient, and an inspection will alert you to any problems. Check and replace air filters as needed.Test the thermostat to make sure it is working properly. Make sure that heating grilles are open and that nothing blocks them. If you didn't clean and inspect your chimney in spring, call a chimney sweep now before using the fireplace or oven again. Clothes dryers cause 2,900 fires a year, so have an HVAC specialist who specializes in dryer vents or vents inspect and clean your dryer vents annually. Homes require internal and external maintenance with regular cleaning and inspections to ensure that everything is safe and functional. Seasonal maintenance tends to meet climatic and usage needs, such as raking leaves and closing the pool.
Appliances and utilities must be inspected and repaired throughout the life of your home.
