They don't call them "the dog days of summer" for nothing. Hot, sunny weather can take its toll on any home, especially the exterior. But sticking to a maintenance plan can ensure that your home continues to look great and handle all that fall and winter is about to throw at it.
Here's a closer look at what should be on your to-do list as summer winds down.
(If you're planning to put your house on the market for the fall selling season, these should become "must dos.")
1. Clean the Gutters
Cleaning the gutters of your home should be done at least twice a year. The end of summer is one ideal time to do this. That's because with the likelihood of autumn rainfall on the way, you want to ensure runoff will be able to drain properly from the roof. Clogged gutters can lead to spillovers, potentially eroding the foundation of your home.
2. Inspect the Roof
While you're cleaning the gutters, hop up onto the roof to check things out. Be on the lookout for soft spots, loose shingles, and warped or damaged shingles. Any damage to the roof increases the likelihood that water could be entering your home and causing structural damage.
3. Seal Windows and Doors
Here's a simple task that you don't want to overlook, especially with brisk fall nights and winter on the way—caulking around windows and checking weather stripping around doors. Sealing your home against drafts keeps heated air in, thereby bettering your utility bills in the process.
4. Change the Air Filter
Hot summer weather has a tendency to really dirty an air filter with bacteria and debris. It's why the end of the summer season is a good time to swap it out for a new one. Most filters these days can simply be discarded and replaced. Replacements are inexpensive and available for purchase at any hardware or home supply store.
5. Store Outdoor Furniture
Give your outdoor furniture a longer life by stowing it away in your garage or your shed prior to that first frost. Cold, wet weather has the potential to wreak havoc on furniture, especially if it's made from wood or wicker.
6. Tidy Up Landscaping and Garden Beds
Give your landscaping and garden beds some summer loving. Pick a not-too-hot weekend and head outside with the garden shears to deadhead perennials and annuals. Deadheading encourages more blooms as sunny weather continues. The weather that results in lush flowerbeds will also bring a bumper crop of weeds. Pull weeds by the roots. You can compost weeds correctly by following a few tips to make sure that weed seeds will be killed completely. Put down another layer of mulch to spruce up all planting beds and control weeds.
7. Clean Outdoor Garbage Bins
Last but not least, we recommend not overlooking the importance of cleaning outdoor garbage bins. When colder weather arrives, small critters are going to be looking for a place to call home until spring. Smelly, unkempt garbage bins can often become that place. Keeping them clean can help prevent this. Squirt a little dishwashing liquid inside the can and use the spray attachment on your outdoor hose to wash it down. Let it dry in the sun.
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