10 End of Summer Home Maintenance Tips

The end of summer is the perfect time to finish any outstanding home improvements and prepare for the colder seasons ahead. The remaining long, bright days are ideal for cleaning, repair, and maintenance, which can go a long way toward preventing costly and disruptive damage to your home once the cooler months roll around.

Before temperatures drop, check out these 10 home maintenance tips to perform by summer’s end:

1. Check your roof. Look for missing or loose shingles. Check your attic for moisture, which could indicate your roof is not watertight.

2. Fix your siding. Paint, clean, and repair any issues in your exterior siding to prevent mildew or bugs from getting into the wood.

3. Examine your windows. Clean your windows and screens and check for damages. Small tears in screens can be fixed with clear nail polish!

4. Seal insulation gaps. Missing insulation can occur in almost any part of the house. Add insulation to the cracks in garage or attic doors to keep heating and cooling costs down.

5. Inspect your basement and attic. Look for pests, insects, water damage, and mold. Turn off the lights and look for cracks of daylight through the walls. Smell for any moisture. A dehumidifier can help keep moisture levels down.

6. Clean your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC). Inspect and clean your furnace once a year to ensure it runs safely and efficiently. Schedule any routine maintenance before it gets cold outside! Clean your HVAC coils, change your filter, test the fan, and make sure there isn’t any faulty wiring that could cause a fire.

7. Inspect and clean your fireplace chimney. While you may be looking forward to a warm fire in the near future, have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your fireplace and chimney. Even if you have a gas fireplace, the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that your chimney and flue be inspected for any blockages that could cause a chimney fire. For gas fireplaces, it is also recommended that a professional check the gas lines and vents for leaks and repair them if necessary.

8. Check your porch and deck. Look for rotting boards, popped screws, or loose boards. Test your sealant by pouring a bit of water on the boards. If the water absorbs, it’s time to reseal your deck.

9. Care for your driveway and sidewalk. The coming snow, ice, and salt are harsh on concrete and asphalt surfaces. Make sure your driveway, sidewalk, and walkways are ready for the coming weather:

• • Pull weeds. Pull any grass or weeds growing in the cracks of your driveway or sidewalk before fixing and sealing any gaps.
  • Repair cracks. When it snows, water collects and ice can form in existing cracks, making them worse. Use concrete caulk to patch up hairline cracks and concrete sealer to fix larger gaps.
  • Clean and seal the surface. Before temperatures drop below 40 degrees, pressure wash your driveway and seal it with a concrete or asphalt sealer to prevent damage from snow and salt.

10. Tend to your trees and trim branches. Wind, rain, snow, and ice are on the way, all of which can weigh down and snap dead branches. Trim your trees and bushes to keep them in good shape. Pruning trees can also help keep them healthy for years to come. Consider hiring a professional if the work is too difficult or dangerous.

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