With warm weather just over the horizon, it’s important to make sure things are running smoothly around your home. Summer weather like heavy rain, drought, temperature fluctuation, and more can cause your home to react in expensive ways. Preventative maintenance is crucial to avoiding costly damage or accidents down the road, so we’ve put together a list of 5 ways to prepare your home for summer.

As always, safety is the priority; wear gloves, goggles, and a mask when around possibly hazardous materials, and always have someone close by in case of emergency. When in doubt, contact professionals before attempting something yourself.

1. It’s Called “Spring Cleaning” for a Reason!

Giving your home a top-to-bottom clean is essential to preparing for summer. While you’re cleaning, make sure to check seals of windows, locks, hinges, etc. to ensure they’re working as they should be. Not only will your house be squeaky clean, you’ll also know if there are any drafts in windows or doors, broken locks, etc. Here is a good starting checklist of major cleaning projects:

• Sink drains, shower heads, and faucets
• Windows and screens
• Vents and attic fans
• Ceiling fan blades, tops of doors, mantles, etc.
• Dryer vent and exhaust duct
• Chimneys
• Floors, counters, and window sills

2. Check Your Attic and Basement

While you may not spend a lot of time in your attic and basement, they can harbor a lot of surprises when they sit unused for long periods. If it’s been a really long time, you might want to wear long sleeves and a dust mask, just in case. Make sure to look them over thoroughly for any mold and/or water damage. Clean out your sump pump and check for any signs of rust or unusual wear. If you find any animal droppings, clean them out and possibly call a pest control company if it looks like there could be a lot of them, or if they’re recent. Giving your exterior floors a once over will potentially save you a lot of time and money if you have an unusually wet or dry summer season!

3. Your Exterior Matters, Too

If you get busy, it can be easy to let the outside of your home and yard go unnoticed, but don’t forget about it! The outside will be what takes the brunt of any damaging storms, intense sunlight, or other bad weather that comes through, so it is equally – if not more – important as the inside of your home. Here is a small checklist of what to do for your exterior:

• Clean out gutters and downspouts
• Clean up the yard of any fallen debris, old leaves/grass, weeds, etc.
• Check for possible foundation damage or cracks around the base of your home
• Look for any animal nests that could pose a hazard
• Scrub your outdoor cooking equipment, playground equipment, patio furniture etc.
• Check your garden hose for any holes or rust, and test the water flow
• Inspect the roof for holes, missing shingles, or unsealed joints to the chimney
• Check your deck or patio for any signs of decay, loose nails, etc.

4. Tune Up Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioning unit might just be the most important part of your home during hot weather, which makes it even more important that you pay it some preventative attention. Change your filter, clean the unit, and test it to make sure it runs smoothly before you actually need it. Even if it seems like everything is in top shape, it can be good to call a professional for a tune up or preventative service checkup if you’re still not sure.

5. Prepare for Pests

Unfortunately, some insects and animals like to avoid the hot weather like we do, and will use your home to do so. Not only is this annoying, but it can create a dangerous situation for both human and creature, and create health problems or expensive repairs down the road. There are a few things you can do ahead of time to help reduce the number of unwanted guests in your home this summer.

• Seal any holes or large gaps you noticed while cleaning
• Trim any long tree branches to make it harder for squirrels to get to your roof
• Seal outdoor trash or recycling receptacles tightly
• Mow frequently
• Use a pest treatment around your fence/home both inside and outside (contact a professional pest company for advice or service)

If you have questions, or would like a professional opinion on what might need repaired in your home, let us help! 360 Inspections provides a complete home inspection, both indoor and outdoor, for your summer preparation needs.