3 Home Maintenance Tips For San Diego Summers

In summertime, your biggest concern should be about cooking enough food for your deck party, and not how to deal with sky high utility bills, a rotted deck, or a leaky appliance. Prevention is the key to summer home maintenance in San Diego. By inspecting and resolving little issues you discover, you can avoid larger, more expensive problems down the line. Here’s 3 summer home maintenance tips that help you remain in control of your house’s maintenance before bigger problems happen.

1. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Summer is the perfect time in San Diego to make your home more energy efficient so that you can keep the heat out and lower your utility bills. Begin by checking your windows and doors for leaks that let air in. Put weatherstripping on doors or replace old weatherstripping if you feel air coming through. Check your windows’ caulking for any cracks or missing pieces and replace it as needed.

You can also reduce your utility bill by purchasing an energy efficient window treatment like plantation shutters - and potentially qualify for a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters minimize the transfer of air through your windows. They’re 70% more energy efficient than normal wooden shutters and 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds.

2. Brighten Up Your Patios And Decks

If you’re planning on barbecuing on your porch or patio during the summer, ensure it’s prepared for your guests. Begin by checking your patio or deck for safety. See if there are any boards, supports, or steps that should be replaced because they’re rotting or broken. Then seal or stain your patio and deck to give it a new look and shield it from the hot summer sun and rain.

After you’ve fixed any damaged boards and areas and sealed your patio, you’re ready for the fun part - making it shine. You can add interest to the windows and doors adjacent to your patio and porch by adding window treatments such as plantation shutters for your french door or sliding doors or sidelight shutters. Then make your porch or patio a haven by bringing in stylish patio furniture or a fire pit. Finally, landscape around your porch or patio to cheer up the space.

3. Maintain Large Appliances

Broken or leaky appliances can put a stop to your fun summer plans. Here’s a list of things to do to maintain your major appliances and keep them humming along:

● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils can raise your electric bill by making your fridge work harder. It’s easy to vacuum them out. Start by unplugging your refrigerator and then use your vacuum’s crevice tool (or a coil cleaning brush attachment) to vacuum out and unclog the coils.

● Dishwasher. Inspect your dishwasher for any lines that are leaking or backed up water. Then give it a deep clean and deodorize it by adding a cup of vinegar to a cycle. You’ll also want to clean out the filter (which is underneath the spray arms in most models) with soap and water.

● Washer and dryer. Check your washing machine hoses for any bulges, cracks, or leaks. If necessary, replace the hoses. Once a year, you should clean out your dryer hose and exterior vent or hire a professional to do the job.

Have An Enjoyable Summer

By keeping on top of your home and appliances, you’ll be able to have a pleasant summer. And if you want to give your house a beautiful look this summer with window treatments for your patios, living rooms, or kitchen, check out our idea gallery and then contact us for a free in-home consultation at 760-405-8887. We’ll walk you through all your window treatment options in San Diego and do all the measuring, work, and installation so you can sit back and enjoy your summer.