Summer will soon be in full swing, and here are a few quick fixes that don’t take much time, but can have a big impact on your home the rest of the summer and throughout the year.
Check your gutters. When summer storms hit, your gutters need to be able to take the pressure. If anything appears loose or bent, have a professional repair it.
Test for pipe breaks in outside faucets. Open the tap and put your finger over it. If you can stop the water, it is likely that there is a leak or break somewhere in the line. Even if you’ve already used your outside faucet, test it – it might be leaking and you might never know it!
Clean, repair, and install screens. Check that everything is in good repair, and patch or replace as needed.
Consider options to lower your energy bill. When the temperature goes up, so does your energy bill. Check out options like reflective film and specialized curtains and blinds to help keep the outside heat out of your home, cutting down your costs.
Clean and service your AC and heating. Have a technician come out for a quick clean and service to be sure everything is ready to go for summer use.
Dispose of any hazardous materials in your garage or workroom. If you were doing projects over the winter, make sure you don’t have anything dangerous hanging around! Follow manufacturer instructions on all chemicals.
Do maintenance on your refrigerators and freezers. Your fridge and freezer need a little bit of TLC, and not just so that they can keep giving you cold drinks all summer! Left unchecked, fridges and freezers can be a common source of leaks.
Take a quick trip around the inside and the outside. Look for anything out of the ordinary – new cracks, wood that seems a little too soft. Be as observant as you can!
Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Make sure everything is working, and change the batteries if needed.
Check your roof. Do a walk-around inspection and look for any loose shingles or obvious, visible damage on the roof. A missing shingle now could lead to a leak later!
All of these tips are quick and easy, but they can save you a lot of headache and hassle in the future.
--Content used in this post was originally published by Mammoth Restoration & Construction and is used with their permission.