Last Updated on August 24, 2019 by Ellen Christian
Are you wondering what type of end of summer home maintenance tips you need to take care of? Summer is starting to wind down here in Vermont. Our temperatures at night are starting to get down into the forties. I’m beginning to see a few golden yellow leaves on the trees which tells me all the leaves will start to change soon. So, now is the time to get started.
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End of Summer Home Maintenance Tips
We have a huge pile of wood in the driveway that needs to be stacked in the woodshed. Now is the time to start preparing our home for the cooler weather. There are so many things that need to be done around the house to keep everything running well. So, these end of summer home maintenance tips will help you wrap up the hot weather and prepare your home or rental properties for the cooler weather to come.
Indoor home maintenance tips
Change the filters. Change the filters in your furnace or air conditioner at the start of every season. Air will flow through filters more freely if they are free of dirt, dust, and microparticles. Be sure to check your vent, fan, refrigerator, and dryer filters at the same time. Finally, check out these HVAC maintenance tips for more ideas.
Check your hot water heater. You should set your hot water heater to 120F or below to avoid potential burns. To help your hot water heater maintain the temperature more cost-effectively, consider wrapping it with an insulated wrap. Here are a few ways to lower your electric bill this year.
Clean the stove. Remove and wash the stove grates, burners and coils with warm water and soap. Grease can build up and increase the chances of a fire. Be sure to vacuum behind the stove to remove any dust build-up. And, if you heat with propane, remember to fill up now.
Safety first
Check your fire extinguishers. Check the expiration dates. Have them serviced or replaced when necessary. Keep one on each floor of your home. Also, be sure that everyone in your home knows how to use the fire extinguisher. And, have a discussion about fire safety tips because everyone needs to know what to do. Here’s a fire extinguisher safety checklist to get started.
Have your wood stove or fireplace cleaned. We heat with a combination of wood and oil. Have a professional clean your wood stove and chimney before the start of the heating season. Consider having a chimney cap installed if you don’t have one to discourage birds from nesting in the chimney. This is one of those end of summer home maintenance tips that you won’t need to do if you don’t heat with a woodstove or fireplace.
Outdoor home maintenance tips
Look for cracks. Inspect the floor, walls, and foundation for cracks. Make note of them and either fix them yourself or hire a contractor before they become more serious. Consider installing extra insulation in areas that may need it.
Check the condition of your gutters. Clean them and repair any cracks. Remove anything blocking the gutters. Once they’re clear, use a garden hose to run water through them and test for blocks. Finally, don’t forget to store your hose away for the winter. Ignoring the simple end of summer home maintenance tips like this one can cause damage when the temperatures drop.
Put your outdoor furniture away. Clean your outdoor furniture and put it away for the winter. Did you know that vinegar and warm water is an effective way to clean outdoor furniture that’s safe for the environment? This is one of those end of summer home maintenance tips that makes me wish summer was longer.
Repair the driveway and sidewalk. Examine them carefully to find cracks. And, seal the cracks before they become any larger. The snow and ice will cause the cracks to become larger. So, it’s best to deal with them when they’re still small because bigger projects are a lot more complicated.
Extra projects if you have time
Consider energy efficiency projects. While the weather is still nice, consider completing any energy efficiency projects you haven’t already done. Here are a few ways to make your home energy efficient. If you have time after focusing on these end of summer home maintenance tips, consider a few other projects while the weather is nice.
Get your garage cleaned out. It’s much nicer to store your car in the garage than to leave it in the driveway to be covered with ice and snow after each storm. If you can’t fit your car in the garage right now, check out a few of these do it yourself project ideas to organize your garage. So, get to it while the weather is still warm enough to work in the garage comfortably.
So, now that you have a few ideas, I hope these end of summer home maintenance tips have inspired you.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
