It’s officially summer! And over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after. To help you stay on top of them, we’ve included our handy checklist here.
The list may seem long, but you don’t need to tackle everything all at once. Do a little bit at a time and before you know it, you’ll be done!
- Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity down.
- Clean or replace your air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
- Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and take corrective action if needed. For example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
- Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
- If you have a plumbing fixture that’s not used frequently such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
- Deep clean carpets and rugs.
- Vacuum your bathroom fan grilles.
- Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer and vacuum lint from the duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
- Check all guardrails and handrails to make sure they’re secure.
- Check the smooth functioning of all windows and lubricate as required.
- Inspect the window putty on the outside of glass panes of older houses. Replace if needed.
- Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
- Lubricate door hinges and tighten screws as needed.
- Check for and replace damaged caulking and weather stripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house.
- Lubricate garage door hardware and ensure it is operating properly.
- Lubricate your automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
- Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.
- Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration. Clean, replace or refinish as needed.
- Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.
- From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
- Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.
- Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
- Repair any damaged steps.
TIP: Make sure you take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later.
And if there are some tasks you don’t feel comfortable handling, contact Amsted’s Home Care department. We offer home upgrades, maintenance and repairs, all completed by our team of fully licensed Red-Seal carpenters and trade professionals.
Get started early with your planning, and your home will thank you!