3 Home Maintenance Tips For Gainesville Summers

During the summer, your biggest concern should be about having enough food for your summer party, and not how to fix a rotted deck or a busted appliance. Prevention is the key to summer home maintenance in Gainesville. By inspecting and fixing small issues you discover, you can guard against bigger, more expensive projects going forward. Here’s 3 summer home maintenance tips that help you remain in control of your home’s maintenance before bigger problems start.

1. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Summer is the perfect time in Gainesville to make your home more energy efficient in order to keep your home cool and lower your energy bills. Begin by inspecting your windows and doors for leaks that let air in. Put weatherstripping on doors or replace old weatherstripping if you feel air coming through. Check your windows’ caulking for any cracks or leaks and replace it as needed.

You can also lower your utility bill by installing an energy efficient window treatment like plantation shutters - and perhaps even qualify for a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters minimize air transfer through your windows. They’re 70% more energy efficient than traditional wooden shutters and 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds.

2. Spruce Up Your Decks And Patios

If you want to host parties on your patio or deck during the summer, check that it’s ready for guests. Begin by checking your patio or deck for safety. Look underneath to see if there are any boards, supports, or steps that should be replaced because they’re broken and can’t bear weight. Then seal or stain your deck and patio to make it look like new again and protect it from the hot summer sun and rain.

After you’ve replaced any damaged boards and areas and stained your patio, it’s time for the fun part: dressing it up. Add interest to the windows and doors attached to your patio and porch by adding window treatments like sidelight shutters or plantation shutters for your sliding door or french doors. Then enhance your porch and patio with new patio furniture or perhaps even a fire pit. The last step is to landscape around your porch or patio to bring in color.

3. Maintain Large Appliances

Appliances that are broken or leak can disrupt your summer plans. Here’s a few things to do to maintain your major appliances and help them run smoothly:

● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils can raise your utility bill since your fridge needs to work harder. It’s easy to clean and vacuum them out. Unplug your refrigerator and then use the crevice tool on your vacuum (or a coil cleaning brush attachment) to remove all the lint and dirt from the coils.

● Dishwasher. Inspect your dishwasher for any backed up water or leaks. Then give it a deep clean and deodorize it by adding a cup of vinegar to a cycle. You’ll also want to clean out the filter (which is underneath the spray arms in most models) with soap and water.

● Washer and dryer. Inspect your washing machine hoses for any leaks, cracks, or bulges. If needed, replace the hoses. You should clean out your dryer hose and exterior vent annually or hire a professional to do the job.

Enjoy Your Summer

By preventing large problems with your home and appliances, you can enjoy a relaxing summer. If you want to give your home a new look this year with window treatments for your patios, living rooms, or kitchen, browse through our idea gallery and then contact us for a free in-home consultation at 813-602-5966. We’ll walk you through all your window treatment options in Gainesville and do all the measuring, work, and installation so you can just relax and enjoy your summer.