As a homeowner, you must already know that regular home maintenance is a must if you want to prevent any serious damage to your property and not burn through your savings. But the process can feel so daunting. If you struggle with figuring out how to schedule your home maintenance in a way that works, is easy and does not drain your energy while still giving you the results, then this article is for you. To make this schedule work, you basically need to divide the major home maintenance tasks by season. This way, you can welcome a new season fully prepared and keep your home in a functional condition while preventing it from weather damage.
1. Winter Maintenance To-Do List
Winter is usually one of the harshest seasons because the cold, dry climate can really wear down your house. The main goal of a winter maintenance check list is to make sure you’re implementing steps for damage control. In some parts of the world, the winter season is literally just snowstorms and blizzards, so it can become extremely difficult to make any repairs. The first thing you need to do is check out the gutters and water flow; this check-in should be done at least a couple of times or more depending on the weather throughout winter. Make sure there are no ice dams in it as they can cause backflow and a blocked gutter. Do not go onto the roof yourself if it has accumulated a lot of ice, if you suspect weather damage to the roof or if it is leaking, consider hiring a service like Austin roof repair to deal with it. Regularly take a look at the yard to see if any large puddles of water have accumulated. Because if the water doesn’t drain for long, it can seep directly into the foundations of the house and cause problems down the line. You can also use up the time you spend indoors in winter to do a thorough cleaning of your basement or garage, the areas otherwise ignored during hotter seasons.
2. Spring Maintenance To-Do List
The major maintenance project for spring season is usually just about reversing the damage done by winter. In spring it can rain a lot so it’s probably not the best time to indulge in projects like painting the house. Instead, you can do simpler maintenance tasks like cleaning out the gutter one more time and remove any ice. Check the side of the house yourself or hire an expert to check it for you. You might want to take a look at the shingles on the rooftop as well and check the flashings and vents for any damage while you’re at it. If the window screens are damaged, replace them otherwise a good cleaning will be due by the time spring arrives. You can also use this opportunity to declutter your house. If there are items you only use in winter season and they have worn out or you simply don’t want to use them anymore, you can set up a yard sale to get rid of them and make some easy money on the side. Spring is also a great time to get your A/Cs serviced so that as soon as the needle on the thermometer moves up, your air conditioning system is ready to support you.
3. Summer Maintenance To-Do List
Planning the heavy-duty repair projects in summer is probably your best bet. The temperature’s high and the humidity is relatively lower so you can think about giving the exterior the paint job you have been wanting to. It is also great for making any repairs to or strengthening the house’s foundation and siding. If you have wooden siding on the exterior or even just picket fences, now would be the perfect time to apply a fresh coat of varnish to keep the wood from rotting. Summers are generally a great time to undertake construction projects so if you have been wanting to build a pool in the yard, you can get started on that project. If drainage was an issue during the winter, you can perhaps build new catch basins in the yard at this time of year.
4. Fall Maintenance To-Do List
The fall maintenance check list is all about preparing for winter season. You can remove the window screens, clean them and store them because you won’t need them. If you have a central air conditioning system you need to winterize it. If you have window AC units, you need to pack them up. Check with your HVAC service specialists to set up your furnace and make sure it’s running efficiently and just before the fall ends, clean out any debris in the fountains, ponds or any water features in your hard to keep them clean once the water starts to freeze.
Conclusion
These maintenance schedules work because they are systematically designed to support your house’s exterior and by consequence interior based on the time of the year it is. It is a simple cycle of four house maintenance check-ins and tasks per year that will save you money, time and your energy.
