3 Home Maintenance Tips For Baltimore Summers

In summertime, your biggest care should be about how many guests are coming to your summer party, and not how to deal with high utility bills, a rotted deck, or a broken appliance. Preventing problems before they happen is the key to summer home maintenance in Baltimore. By inspecting and resolving small issues, you can guard against bigger, more expensive projects in the future. Here’s 3 summer home maintenance tips that help you stay in control of your home’s maintenance before big problems start.

1. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Summer is a great time in Baltimore to increase your home’s energy efficiency so that you can keep your home cool and your energy bills low. Start by inspecting your windows and doors for leaks that let air in. Add weatherstripping to doors or replace cracked weatherstripping if you feel air coming through. Check your windows’ caulking for any missing pieces or cracks and replace the cracked sections.

Purchasing energy efficient window treatments like plantation shutters is another way you can lower your utility bill - and potentially qualify for a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters lower the transfer of air through your windows. They’re 70% more energy efficient than traditional wooden shutters and 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds which are found in many homes.

2. Enhance Your Decks And Patios

If you want to entertain on your patio or porch during the summer, make sure it’s prepared for guests. Begin by inspecting your patio or deck for safety. Look around to see if there are any supports, boards, or stairs that should be replaced because they’re rotting or broken. Then stain or seal your deck and patio to give it a new look and guard it against the bright summer sun and rain.

Once you’ve replaced any soft boards and areas and sealed your patio, it’s time to make it shine. Make your doors and windows adjacent to your patio and deck more interesting by installing window treatments such as sidelight shutters or plantation shutters for your french door or sliding doors. Then bring in new patio furniture or maybe even a fire pit. Finally, landscape the edges of your patio or porch to bring in color.

3. Maintain Large Appliances

Broken or leaky appliances can disrupt your summer plans. Here’s some things to watch out for with your major appliances to help them run smoothly:

● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils can raise your utility bill by making your fridge work harder. It’s easy to clean and vacuum them out. Unplug 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 backed up water or leaks. Then give it a deep clean and deodorize it by adding a cup of vinegar to a cycle. Finally, empty and clean the filter (located underneath the spray arms in most dishwashers) with soap and water.

● Washer and dryer. Inspect your washing machine hoses for any leaks, cracks, or bulges. Replace the hoses if needed. You should clean your dryer hose and exterior vent annually or have a professional do the job.

Enjoy Your Summer

By preventing large problems with your home and appliances, you can have a pleasant summer. If you’re interested in giving your house a new look this season with window treatments for your patios, dining rooms, or living rooms, browse through our idea gallery and then give us a ring for a free in-home consultation at 301-321-7998. We’ll show you all your window treatment options in Baltimore and do all the work and installation so you can just relax and enjoy your summer.