3 Home Maintenance Tips For Sacramento Summers
During the summer, your biggest care should be about how many guests are coming to your summer party, and not how to handle high utility bills, a rotted deck, or a leaky appliance. The key to summer home maintenance in Sacramento is prevention. When you inspect and fix little issues you discover, you can prevent larger, more expensive projects down the line. Here’s 3 home maintenance tips for summer that will keep you on top of your home’s maintenance before big problems start.
1. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Summer is a great time in Sacramento to increase your home’s energy efficiency in order to keep the heat out and your energy bills low. Begin by inspecting your doors and windows for leaks that let air through. Add weatherstripping to doors or replace broken weatherstripping if you feel air leaking through. Inspect your windows’ caulking for any missing pieces or cracks and replace the broken sections.
You can also reduce your utility bill by purchasing an energy efficient window treatment like plantation shutters - and perhaps even get a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters minimize air transfer through your window’s glass. They’re 70% more energy efficient than traditional wooden shutters and 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds which many homes currently use.
2. Spruce Up Your Decks And Patios
If you’re planning on hosting parties on your patio or porch this summer, make sure it’s in the best shape for your guests. Start by checking your patio or deck for safety. Look underneath to see if there are any stairs, supports, or boards that should be replaced because they’re soft and rotted. Then seal or stain your patio and deck to give it a new look and protect it from the hot summer sun and rain.
After you’ve fixed any broken boards and areas and sealed your patio, it’s time to make it shine. Make your doors and windows next to your porch and patio more beautiful by adding window treatments like sidelight shutters or plantation shutters for your french door or sliding doors. Then add stylish patio furniture or perhaps even a fire pit. The last step is to landscape around your patio or porch to bring nature into the space.
3. Maintain Large Appliances
Broken or leaky appliances can disrupt your fun summer activities. Here’s a few things to do to maintain your major appliances and keep them running 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. Start by unplugging 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 leaks or backed up water. Then deodorize it and give it a deep clean by running a cycle with a cup of vinegar. You’ll also want to clean out the filter (which is underneath the spray arms in most dishwashers) with soap and water.
● Washer and dryer. Check your washing machine hoses for any leaks, cracks, or bulges. If needed, replace the hoses. Once a year, you should clean your dryer hose and exterior vent or pay a professional to do the job.
Enjoy Your Summer
By preventing large problems with your home and appliances, you’ll be able to have a relaxing summer. If you want to give your home a fresh look this year with window treatments for your patios, kitchens, or bedrooms, browse through our idea gallery and then call us for a free in-home consultation at 916-665-0078. We’ll show you samples of all your window treatment options in Sacramento and do all the work and installation so you can sit back and enjoy your summer.
