Summer is here! Many of us have a mile-long list of things we want to accomplish this season, from DIY projects to new grilling recipes and weekend getaways. Before you start tackling your summer to do list, take care of your home maintenance to do list! Keep your home in its best shape this season with these 6 summer home maintenance tasks.
1) Monitor the humidity in your home. Maintaining the correct humidity levels in your home is crucial – too little humidity can cause wood flooring issues, trim/cabinet issues, and nail pops and drywall cracks, while too much humidity can lead to moisture on the windows and damp or musty basements. In the summer months, monitor your home’s humidity level and make sure it’s not too high. Humidistats can be placed throughout the home and give you a better reading of the humidity than just the humidistat on the furnace alone. If your humidity level is too high (we recommend maintaining a humidity level of 35-45%), consider using a dehumidifier.
2) Check the plumbing traps for water. The plumbing trap is the curved pipe by your sinks, toilets, etc. and holds water to prevent sewer gases from entering the building, while still allowing waste to pass through. If you come home after an extended vacation to find your home smelling like sewage, it’s likely the water in your traps evaporated while you were away. To fix this, simply run water in all of your sinks to refill the traps.
3) Check your gutters for debris. This may seem like a job for the fall, but it’s smart to check your gutters periodically throughout the year. Make sure your gutters are clear of debris so they can handle the season’s heavy rainstorms.
4) Get warm, moist air out of your home. On a day when the humidity and temperature is low, open the windows to let fresh air in and to give your home a fresh start, especially if your home’s been closed up and has had the A/C cranked for a few weeks.
5) Use silicone spray on the windows. Vinyl windows can expand in the heat. Silicone spray is a lubricant and will help you open and close the window more easily this season.
6) Water your street trees. Street trees need TLC in the summer, especially if they were installed that spring. Water street trees throughout the summer – approximately 5 gallons per day for the first 2 weeks after the tree was installed and 10 gallons per week thereafter.
Be sure to check out our full list of summer home maintenance tips!
