It's summertime, and the living is easy...isn't that how the song goes?
Before too much of the season gets ahead of you, it's important to take a look around your home - both inside and out - and perform a few quick preventative maintenance items to kick the season off right.
Here's a list of my top 6 items that I think every homeowner should take the time to get done to prepare their home for an Iowa summer...
1. Spruce Up the Outdoors
The deck, patio, and porch all take a beating over the winter and spring. Grab a broom and sweep away any accumulated debris to ready your outdoor areas for summer activities. Inspect decks and porches for broken or rotting wood, nail pops, and any other repair hazards. Paint and seal surfaces as necessary to protect them from seasonal storms. Summer is also the time to rent a pressure washer and blast the grime of the winter off of your home’s siding for a “like new” look.
2. Brighten Up the Doors and Windows
Being shut all winter can leave doors and windows looking dingy and grimy. First, check the door and window locks to ensure they are functioning properly. Then give the glass a good washing inside and out and be on the lookout for damage left behind by winter weather (holes in screens).
Get the holes fixed, or the screens replaced as well as to be sure to replace broken or cracked glass as soon as possible, tighten up the shutters and paint the frames if necessary.
3. Spend Time on the Garage
Don't forget to give your garage a quick walk through!
Summer is a good time to lubricate the working parts of your garage door and inspect it for problems with opening and closing. Test the remote opener and slide the door along its tracks manually a few times to make sure that it does not sag, catch or drop.
Then work on clearing the clutter out of the garage so that it is easier to find seasonal essentials such as the lawn mower and garden tools.
4. Inspect Outdoor Utilities
If you did not have your AC unit inspected in the springtime, be sure to have a professional inspect it, clean it out and change the filters. You want to be ready for that first 100 degree hot and humid Iowa summer day that you know will be coming!
Check indoor and outdoor electrical outlets for possible fire hazards (frayed wires or loose plugs). Also, check recreational equipment and playsets to ensure all fasteners are secure, not rusted, and everything operates as expected.
5. Shampoo Those Carpets
Summertime is allergy season, and it's the perfect time to get those allergens OUT of your house. Spend some extra time vacuuming rugs, carpets, drapes, and air vents and ducts.
Now is the perfect time to get your carpets cleaned, getting rid dust, allergens and other elements that have been brought indoors all year.
6. Clean The Grill
Summertime is grilling time, and you want to be sure to give your grill a deep clean before you invite guests for your first backyard barbecue!
If you have a gas grill, turn up the heat and leave it on for about an hour. Once it’s cooled, give the unit a good scrubbing with a bristle-free brush or balled-up aluminum foil.
For charcoal grills, empty any remaining charcoal and use a brush to scrape off caked-on gunk. Then use a hot, soapy sponge to wipe it clean.
Summertime is a special time of year; and it goes by much too quickly!
Make the most of it, and by practicing these few simple tips, the living might be just a little bit easy!