Home maintenance is a year-round endeavor that keeps your home looking and functioning great. As winter and spring start to fade and warmer temperatures take hold, there are several things you can do to get your home ready for summer. Here are some summer home maintenance tips to prepare your home for summer:

1. Check Your Doors and Windows

Every season is a good time to make sure your window and doors are in good working order. Air leaks and poor insulation will affect your home no matter the time of year and will have a bigger effect on your energy bills during the peaks of winter and summer. This is why checking your windows and doors is on a spring home maintenance checklist and something that should be done throughout the year.

When your A/C is running to combat the summer heat, the last thing you want is for air leaks to wreak havoc on the temperature inside your home. Old, damaged, or poorly sealed windows and doors can no longer efficiently control air flow in and out of your home. Cool air from inside rushes out as hot, humid air seeps in through the openings provided by inefficient windows and doors. This is why checking on your doors and windows is one of the biggest summer home maintenance tips.

Doors

Check your doors to ensure they are sitting plumb to the frame and they are properly sealed. Also, give them a good once-over for any damage or signs of moisture on the door itself and the frame. If you see any issues, it may be time to replace your door. This is also a good opportunity to make sure your door locks are still in good condition.

Take a look at the Zephyr Thomas team replacing the front door for this homeowner!

Windows

Go through the same process with your windows. Try opening and closing each one. Do they open and close smoothly or do they get stuck? Also, make sure the window locks are working well and that your window screens have not sustained any damage throughout the winter and spring.

Check the windows and the window frames for any visible damage or signs of moisture. Windows can often have condensation, but not all causes of window condensation are normal. If you notice that your windows are foggy and there is no visible cause or there is moisture between the panes or on the walls nearby, it may be time for some replacement windows.

Replacing old or damaged windows and doors with new ones that are properly installed and sealed reduces the risk of damage and also improves your home’s energy efficiency before the summer heat arrives. Check out our team replacing these windows!

2. Examine Your Basement

Basements are notorious for being dark and dank places, particularly if they are unfinished. Take some time to examine every nook and cranny of your basement.

If it is already finished, check for any visible signs of water damage or moisture. If your basement is still unfinished, you’ll still want to check for moisture and you’ll also want to take a look at how well your basement is insulated.

Unfinished basements tend to be less well-insulated than finished basements, which can cause loss of energy in any season. Remodeling or finishing your basement can fix any existing damage, help to prevent future damage, and provide better insulation to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Take a look at the Zephyr Thomas team remodeling a basement in the video below!

3. Look Over Roof and Siding

Damage, poor insulation, and age can all affect the ability of your roof and siding to protect your home. Once all the winter ice and snow melts and you can get a good view, carefully look over your roof and siding. You’ll want to keep an eye out for any damage sustained over the winter or through spring rainstorms.

Roof

In the case of your roof, missing or damaged shingles or water damage are signs it may be time to replace your roof. Also, you’ll want to think about the age of your roof. If it’s been over 20 years, you may want to have a professional come out a take a closer look at how well your roof is holding up.

Check out the roof replacement Zephyr Thomas completed for this home!

Siding

When it comes to siding, look for any visible signs of damage to the siding or signs of water damage. These are both big red flags that your siding may be compromised and it’s time for new siding.

In this video, the Zephyr Thomas team updates the siding and trim on this home!

When your roof and your siding are performing at their best, they help to insulate and protect your home. Not only does this improve energy efficiency year-round, but it is also especially effective during the hot summer or cold winter months.

4. Check Your Yard and Outdoor Spaces

Make sure everything in your yard, including any outdoor spaces you have, is in order. Spring is a good time to take stock of these areas after winter, but you’ll want to check over them again as you move into summer.

If you already have a patio or a deck, look over these structures to make sure they are in good shape. If you have a solid concrete patio or a vinyl deck, you likely won’t have issues. But, if you still have a wood deck, you will want to check for loose boards, protruding nails, and signs of rot or other damage. This may also be a good time to consider replacing your deck and upgrading to a vinyl deck that isn’t prone to these issues.

In addition to taking stock of your landscaping and fixing any issues there, you can also think about improvements you want to make to your backyard. If you don’t have a patio, patio enclosure, sunroom, or deck, consider adding one. These are great ways to add value to your home and are also popular summer home improvement projects.

Take a look at the Zephyr Thomas team building a four-season sunroom addition for this homeowner!

5. Examine the Interior Details of Your House Too

It’s easy to remember to look over the big stuff like windows, doors, basements, and the exterior of your home, but you don’t want to forget about other interior details. This is why examining the interior details of your house is one of the summer home maintenance tips.

Going room by room is a good idea and can help break down a big task into smaller, more manageable ones. Here are a few good areas to make sure you check as you move through your home:

Check in on Your Furnace and Vents

Check that your furnace filter is in good condition. It may need to be cleaned or replaced. This is an important safety point because it may become a fire hazard. The same goes for the lint trap and dryer vent.

Look Over Appliances and Hoses

To stave off costly and unsightly water damage, make sure the hoses connected to your washing machine and other appliances are not cracked or leaking. This is also a good opportunity to take stock of the big appliances in your home.

Are any of them outdated or in need of being replaced? Upgrading to newer, more energy-efficient options can help you save on energy bills in the long run and help you avoid a costly or urgent replacement later.

Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Water Damage

Leaks and water damage are not always obvious early on. If leaks are smaller and are hidden, you may not be able to see signs of moisture or damage until they get worse. Once you see visible signs of leaks and water damage, it’s important to get things checked out, identify the leak, and fix it.

This is often one of the signs you might have mold behind the walls. Even if you don’t have mold yet, visible water damage indicates a problem that needs to be fixed before it causes further damage to your home. So, as you’re going through your home, look for moisture or water damage on the ceiling and walls of each room.

These are just a few summer home maintenance tips to make sure your home is prepped to handle full sun, hot weather, and summer storms. These are also good items to include on a New Year home maintenance checklist. If you notice any issues that need to be fixed around your house or you get inspired for your next home improvement project, contact Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708 to start your free quote!