Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist: Keeping Your Property in Top Shape Year-Round
As a property owner, you have a lot of responsibility when it comes to upkeep and maintenance. In addition to improving the appearance of your home, an annual cleaning routine can also improve your health. To help you get prepared, here are some maintenance guidelines to keep in mind throughout the year.
Protecting The Home During Winter
Maintaining your house has many benefits, including lowering your overall maintenance costs and improving the longevity of your home systems. Another perk is that you can keep your family safe, which you can start when the cold winter months are approaching. Have your heating system and furnace maintained before the winter season. Also, reverse your ceiling fans so that they push the rising heat back down into your rooms.
This is also a good time to winterize the home. The most important task is to insulate your outdoor water spigot and the pipes in your attic and under sinks. Keep your house above 55 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burst pipes.
As winter approaches, it’s also a good idea to ensure your home isn’t under-insulated. If you feel the wall and it’s damp or cold, chances are there’s not enough insulation. Have a contractor come out and inspect so you can keep your family warm and safe.
Get Ready For Summer
Just as you need to prepare for the cold winter months, you should also prepare for the hot summer.
When the warmer months are approaching, it’s a great time to have a professional inspect your HVAC systems and air conditioning. In addition to keeping cool, maintaining your air conditioner is also essential to improve your indoor air quality. Your home has various components, including paint and room deodorizers, that can contain or produce volatile organic compounds, which can affect the eyes, nose, and throat. When your AC unit is maintained, the inspector can ensure that it’s running efficiently, so the air is less toxic and it isn’t just recirculating the bad air.
Other home maintenance tips during the summer include:
Powerwash the driveway and patio to clean dirt and grime from the past year.
Examine windows and doors to verify they’re sealed tightly.
Eliminate bug nests in the home and yard.
Pull weeds to keep your grass and garden looking great.
Then, perform any other tasks that are applicable to your dwelling.
Spring Cleaning
Your initial focus during the spring season should be on eliminating dust wherever possible to keep your air clean and avoid health issues. Dirty air can affect people with asthma, allergies, and other existing respiratory issues. It can cause wheezing, stinging eyes, irritated sinuses, and more. Over time, poor air can lead to more long-term health issues, including death.
One solution to avoid poor air is to stay indoors, but that will only work if your home is clean. Dust your home regularly throughout the summer and clear all unnecessary clutter so there are fewer places for dust to gather. Also, check the often-forgotten places where dust can gather, including on top of fan blades and the window blinds.
Other items to add to your spring cleaning checklist include:
Sorting out and cleaning the freezer and refrigerator
Spot cleaning carpets
Cleaning outdoor furniture
Vacuuming your mattresses
This is also a good time to touch up the paint where it’s needed so the house looks like new.
Maintaining Your Home In The Fall
Fall is a good time to make repairs from an eventful summer and prepare for what comes next. This is a good time to call a contractor or head up to the roof yourself and make sure it's in good condition. Inspect it and look for broken shingles, and if you notice anything that needs repair, have it fixed before snow and other inclement weather arrives.
While you’re up on the roof, check the gutters and other debris that may be clogging up the works. If you have a chimney, this is also a good time to inspect it so you’re ready to start cozy fires when the weather gets colder. A chimney inspection includes checking for cracks, damage, and soot buildup that could create a fire hazard.
Finally, autumn is an excellent time to cover or bring in any lawn furniture and other items you don’t want covered in snow.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the crucial steps you should take to protect your home throughout the year. You can find other detailed cleaning checklists by searching online. Keep your house well-maintained, and it will last the test of time.