5 Summer Home Maintenance Projects You Must Do

Summer is quickly coming and that means many things to many people. For some, it means vacations and swimming pools. For others, it means late night thunderstorms on the front porch.

No matter what summer means to you there are some summer home maintenance tips that you should follow. They can help you save money and keep you from creating more work for yourself down the road.

Replace Air Conditioner Filter

Replacing your air conditioner filter should be done once every 2-3 months depending on the air quality of the area you live in. Changing out the filter for a new one just before summer will give you a solid timeline of when you should change it again. If you notice that your air conditioner is working harder or constantly coming on, it may mean that your filter is dirty and should be changed. You may also notice a faint musty smell.

We use a high quality filter, so we usually change ours twice a year when we have our A/C company out in the spring and fall to clean and service our A/C unit.

Drain Your Water Heater

Cut the power/gas and water supply to your water heater and connect a hose to the drain spout. Run the hose outside and open the drain spout on the water heater. This goes without saying but the water that comes out of the hose will be extremely hot, so be careful. Sediment buildup can ruin your water heater over time. Draining it about once a year will help cut down on sediment buildup.

Patch Driveway Cracks

During the colder months, water seeps into small cracks in the driveway. Once the water freezes it expands and creates larger cracks. Use cement patch to fill the cracks. Since you won't have to worry about freezing during the summer, this is the best time do get this done.

Clear Space Around the AC Unit

If you have plants or shrubs growing around your AC unit consider trimming them back. In order to work efficiently, these units need to have the best airflow as possible. Overheating of your air conditioning unit can cause permanent damage or even fire so this is a pretty serious one.

Inspect Sprinkler System / Irrigation

Checking your watering system before you need to use it is vital to the health of your lawn and the ground underneath it. Consider this, if one of your sprinkler heads starts to leak underneath the ground and into the top soil you run the risk eroding the dirt away (not to mention a hefty water bill!). You should check for cracked sprinklers, any exposed sprinkler lines, or anywhere else that may be leaking water and draining your wallet.

These summer home maintenance tips are for anyone who wants to save some money in the long run while making the most of their utilities in the summer. Are there any tips that you would have added to this list? Add them down in the comments!