14 Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Summer

14 To-Do’s to Make Sure Your Home is Ready for Summer 2014

Everyone in Central PA is getting excited as the weather is getting warmer and the grass is getting greener. It’s finally the season where everything begins to grow and everyone can get outside of their homes after being stuck inside during the cold winter we just had. There is so much to do and this is the time to get your home prepared for Spring and Summer. That’s why we wanted to help you out with this little list to check off as you prepare for the warm weather.

  • Get an air conditioning tune-up. Call your air conditioning contractor to have a professional air conditioning tune-up performed to make sure your A/C is ready to keep you comfortable throughout the hot summer months.
  • If you have gaps around your windows or doors that are wider than a nickel, you should apply exterior caulk to seal them up. This will help you save money on your air conditioning bills for the summer.
  • Clean out your gutters! If you have trees in your yard, there’s a good chance that over the fall and winter, leaves and twigs have built up and could be clogging your gutters and downspouts
  • If you are concerned about loose or missing shingles from this winter’s heavy storms, hire a handyman to inspect or repair spots on your roof. The cost to repair the shingles is much cheaper than fixing damaged ceilings or walls from an ignored leak.
  • Wash the windows so you can take in all that warm, spring sunshine. This is a job that if you have a ranch or one story home is very easy to do and will only require you to purchase some paper towels and a bottle of glass cleaner. The effort is worth it when you are relaxing inside and looking out at your beautiful flowers through crystal clear glass.
  • Are your sidewalks or driveways cracked or chipped? Driveway cracks and holes usually start over the winter when water inside or underneath the concrete freezes and expands. This results in a divot, or crack in the driveway or sidewalk. If you notice cracks in these surfaces it’s always best to fix them right away to keep them from becoming larger. There are a lot of do-it-yourself cement repair products available and instructions and guides online (youtube) that are great for learning how to fix this yourself.If the crack is too large or has shifted your driveway or sidewalk more than you can repair yourself, you might want to call in a professional to get your driveway back to normal.
  • Check your sump pumps to make sure they are ready for heavy spring and summer thunderstorms. If you are not sure if your sump pump is working properly, call out your expert plumber and they’ll be able to inspect it for you.
  • Make sure your decks are ready for your summer picnics and parties. Does your deck need resealed? Is it still structurally sound to handle the load of your family and friends hanging out on it this year?To be sure your deck is safe for another summer season, check the wood supports and beams for decay. If you aren’t sure of what to look for check for soft spongy wood that doesn’t splinter when you poke it with a screwdriver.
  • Clean your chimney. Now that heating season is (mostly) over it’s a good idea to think about getting your chimney cleaned out so it is ready to go for next fall. Make sure you call a professional chimney sweep that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, you can even do a search for a professional chimney sweep in your zip code. A professional chimney sweep will clean your chimney, inspect it for damage and warn you of any hazards that may need to be repaired to keep your home safe.If you have a chimney with a damper, make sure to close the damper when the chimney is not being used to save on your cooling bills this summer.
  • Get your lawn mower ready now so it can handle the workload this summer. This includes getting your lawn mower blades sharpened, changing the oil, replacing the spark plug, and adding fresh gasoline. If you aren’t sure what your lawn mower needs, take it to your local lawn mower repair shop for a tune-up, and you’ll be cutting grass in no time!
  • If you have a stack of firewood from this winter, remove it if it’s stored near the home. Keep the firewood away from your home in the summer and make sure wherever you store it that it’s at least 18 inches off the ground and 24 inches from any structures like sheds.
  • Check your outdoor hose faucets for damage from freezing. To test them, turn the water on and place your thumb over the opening. If you are able to stop the flow of water, you may have a pipe inside your home that is damaged and leaking inside. This will need to be replaced, so call your expert plumber to replace the section of burst pipe or the garden hose faucet.
  • While you are thinking about the garden hose, check it for signs of damage at the connections, replace the rubber washers in the ends if they are old and check your garden hose for signs of dry rot.
  • After you’ve finished all of the work outside, why not keep going and do a little spring cleaning inside your home? Go through your drawers and closets and clean out any old clothes that are out of style or that you don’t wear anymore. Maybe there are old toys and decorations that are packed away that your kids or you haven’t even used in years.Gather up all the stuff that you can part with and have a yard sale! Maybe you’ll be able to make a little extra spring cash for your projects this year? If you aren’t into all the work of a yard sale consider donating your stuff to a local community charity or take it to a consignment shop.

After all that hard work you’ll be ready to sit back and enjoy your clean home this Summer! If you are interested in a professional air conditioner tune-up or want to have your sump pumps inspected so make sure you are ready for this spring and summer call us TODAY at 717-470-8201!

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