Summer Home Inspection Checklist
Check out this summer home inspection checklist so you can make sure you are ready for the heat! The sun is out and the warm weather is upon us. This is prime roofing season as homeowners take the time to get a great look at their homes and identify problems. As temperatures rise, the materials and layers of your home shift and swell… so something that may not have been an issue in the winter can now become one in the summer.
Summer home maintenance is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can save you money in the long run by identifying and addressing any issues before they become major problems. Secondly, it can improve the safety and security of your home, ensuring that it is a comfortable and secure place for you and your family to live. Finally, summer home maintenance can help to improve the energy efficiency of your home, which can reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint.
With regard to roofing, gutters, and siding:
- Roof – Summer storms can cause damage to your roof, so it is important to check for any signs of damage, such as missing shingles or cracked tiles. Older shingles get brittle with the heat and may begin to crack, get blown off, or fail to protect your home from the elements.
- Flashing – Materials in joints around vents, and chimneys sometimes crack and moisture begins to get in your attic.
- Siding – Ages with time and floats on your home. With the heat, you may see some buckling or shifting that requires some easy maintenance.
- Gutters – Seedlings fall from trees and clog gutters, often requiring you to get up on the roof and clear them off. Be careful, too many accidents happen with homeowners on the roof!
- Pests – Critters are now active and searching for food and moisture. From ants to chipmunks and everything in between, now is when they’ll find their way into your home!
- Energy – Air conditioning is one of the largest energy costs for a home, so it’s time to look for opportunities to insulate your home and get it more efficient!
Make sure to get your summer home inspection!
Feel free to contact Bauerle to come out and inspect your home for issues! We are experienced inspectors and can give you a rundown on your roof, gutter, and siding health!
In addition to the items above, here’s a solid maintenance list for your home this month:
- Garage – it’s time to oil your door opener, chain, and rollers. Be sure to inspect the bottoms of your walls in your garage as well as any doors. Garages are often an entry point for pests and many are uninsulated.
- Windows – test all your windows and feel for heat coming through around the sill and seals. Old windows that made it through the winter often need some care for fixing seals and gaps. Replace any damaged or worn weather stripping to ensure that your home is properly sealed.
- Exhausts – go by a lint remover and pull the extra lint out of your dryer. Remove the exhaust hose and make sure it’s not clogged.
- Leaks – check your garden hoses, washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, and sinks for any links.
- Gardening – prune your trees and shrubs, and mulch your gardens as needed. You may want to have the electric company come out if you see your trees growing into electrical lines.
- Pressure Wash – it’s a great time to pressure wash your driveway, patios, and fences – retreating them as necessary.
- Air Conditioning – do yourself a favor and pay for a maintenance package with your local HVAC company and have them out to test your air conditioning… the last thing you need is for your AC to go out on a hot day when everyone else does!
- Humidifier – invest in a dehumidifier to improve how comfortable your home air is in addition to saving some funds on air conditioning.
- Ceiling Fans – it’s time to change the direction of your ceiling fans so they spin counterclockwise… this pushes air down and creates a cool breeze.
- Pool or Spa – it’s pool season – so time to skim, vacuum, and clean your pool, check the pH levels, replace filters, and repair any leaks.
DIY vs. Professional maintenance
While many of the tasks on your summer home maintenance checklist can be completed on your own, some may require the expertise of a professional. Consider your own skills and abilities when deciding which tasks to tackle on your own and which to leave to the experts.
Summer home maintenance is an important part of being a homeowner. By staying ahead of the game and completing the tasks on your summer home maintenance checklist, you can ensure that your home is in top condition for the summer months ahead. From exterior maintenance to energy efficiency tips, safety and security measures to pool and outdoor area maintenance, be sure to cover all the bases to keep your home in tip-top shape.
Inspections are always free, so take advantage of the opportunity to have us out. And don’t forget… roofing technology has significantly changed over the last two decades. New roofs and siding are more energy-efficient and seamless guttering systems with leaf guards can help you with energy costs and reduced maintenance.
Feel free to contact Bauerle to come out and inspect your home for issues! We are experienced inspectors and can give you a rundown on your roof, gutter, and siding health!
