Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Is your home ready for summer?
Homeownership is not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot that goes into maintaining a home, especially if you intend to be there for a long time. To ensure a home is functioning as it should requires a little elbow grease and possibly a little help from the professionals. A locally owned and operated handyman service, Serve One Construction has put together a summer home maintenance checklist for homeowners in Hoover, Homewood, and throughout the Greater Birmingham Metro area. Let’s take a closer look at a few items we consider to be essential home maintenance this summer.
Become the grill master
If you’ve mastered the art of grilling and deliver mouthwatering results every time- give yourself a pat on the back! Every good grill master needs a good grill and that’s what we’re going to focus on in this section. Really, we should’ve titled it “Become the grill cleaning master”.
Whether you prefer your burgers cooked atop charcoal or your steaks cooked over gas, you’ll need to clean your grill. Eliminating dust, pollen, residue, and other debris that has collected since the last time you used it prevents fires that can escalate quickly and ensures food will not be contaminated.
Both charcoal and gas grills benefit from a good scrubbing. This means going at both the inside and outside of your grill with the proper cleaning solution and tools. We also encourage you to make sure all the elements are working properly and that you’ve got charcoal or propane standing by. Nothing ruins a BBQ quite like no fuel.
Test your smoke detectors
We’re confident homeowners understand the importance of properly working smoke detectors and yet, it’s often something that is overlooked or easily forgotten. This summer, check your smoke detectors. If they’re not working or chirping, we recommend changing the battery. In fact, most experts on the subject suggest replacing batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year. An easy way to remember this is to swap out the old 9V or other type battery when the time springs forward and when it falls back.
If smoke detectors don’t work after you’ve replaced the battery, it's possible that it has reached the end of its lifespan or possibly there might be another cause. In either case though, you’ll want to replace your smoke detectors.
Because smoke detectors may be hardwired to an active home security system, make sure you notify your company before testing. You only want first responders to show up if there’s a real emergency.
Check your carbon monoxide detector
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can result in carbon monoxide poisoning in people and animals when it builds up indoors. Most homes are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors to prevent this lethal problem from occurring.
And just like smoke detectors, you must make sure your detector is working properly. Change the battery when you change the clocks in the spring and fall AND test the monitor.
If your carbon monoxide detectors are tied to a home security system that will notify the proper authorities if there’s a problem, be sure to let them know you’re testing your system.
Give you’re A/C a little TLC
During an Alabama summer, air conditioning is a must! You do not want to be stuck with a broken or poorly running A/C unit when the temps start to climb. Depending on the type of unit you have, you might be able to clean and change the filter on your own. If you have central air or an HVAC system, you may be better off contacting the company that installed it or that has completed maintenance on it previously.
Check for outdoor leaks
Outdoor leaks, left unaddressed, can cause a bunch of headaches for property owners and result in damage to the structure. To prevent that, we suggest checking for outdoor leaks around the perimeter of your home and making any necessary fixes. If you have a pool or hot tub, be sure to inspect those closely for leaks as well. You may need to contact your plumber or pool professional for help.
Clean gutters and inspect downspouts
Gutters and downspouts work in conjunction to collect rainwater from the roof and carry it away from the home’s foundation thereby preventing damage to the roof, exterior surfaces, and the foundation. If gutters are clogged with leaves, branches, and other debris that accumulate and if your downspouts are not pointed away from the foundation, you could find yourself with a costly problem. Avoid the stress and take time this summer to clean the gutters thoroughly and make sure they are connected to the downspouts (without any leaking) properly. You should also take a few moments to inspect downspouts; if they’re not directing water away from the house, adjust so that they do.
Prep the deck
Who doesn’t love spending time on their deck grilling and relaxing during the summer months? Make sure your deck is ready for the fun by giving it a once over. You’ll want to make sure there aren’t any loose or rotting boards, nails are firmly in their spots, railings are not wobbly, and that it is otherwise intact.
We also recommend checking to make sure the deck is not absorbing water. If you see water beading into little puddles and not saturating the wood, then you’re probably all set. If that’s not the case, you may want to seal or paint the deck in order to preserve its structural integrity and to make sure it looks good.
If you’re not comfortable tackling this home improvement project on your own, contact Serve One Construction. We specialize in deck repairs and would be happy to stop by for a free consultation!
Touch up exterior paint
Earlier this year we encouraged homeowners to tackle their indoor painting jobs and now we’d like to turn your attention to the exterior of your home. Exterior paint is designed to protect the surface for quite some time. That said, this is Alabama and our weather ensures that exterior paint won’t last forever. Signs that it’s time to paint your home include:
Fading from sun and other elements
Cracked, peeling, or bubbling paint or caulking
Rotting or splitting wood
Gaps where the home is pulling away from door and window frames
Other considerations for painting your exterior – you’re just not feeling the color anymore or you’re thinking about selling the home. As we speak, it is a seller’s market in the Greater Birmingham metro area and homes are going quick. If you’re thinking about selling your home but are worried that the exterior paint may deter buyers, consider repainting. Before you do that though, be sure to reach out to a realtor for their advice. The return may not be worth the investment.
Don’t want to tackle this project on your own? Offering professional handyman services in Greater Birmingham, our team can help you cross this item off your summer maintenance checklist!
Enjoy the Summer with a little help from Serve One
We realize you only have so much time in between work, sports, and other must do’s this summer so we’ll leave you with this shorter list and one last encouragement to focus on home maintenance this summer. You’ll be glad you did!
If you find yourself short on time, contact Serve One Construction for help. As we mentioned above, we offer handyman services and deck repair services but are also experienced contractors who specialize in home remodeling, termite damage repair services, and more. If you have a home improvement project you’re considering, we’d love to talk with you!
