Seasonal Upkeep for a Healthy Home

Your home is a huge investment, and it’s where you want to enjoy spending time! That’s why you can make your life easier by putting in a little routine upkeep. Remember, a little goes a long way.

If you want to avoid expensive repairs, adding some monthly maintenance into your routine can help keep your home functioning properly.

Apart from monthly upkeep, you can make things easier on yourself by breaking down chores by seasons. Read on for a quick guide:

Monthly Tasks

To keep your home in good working order, try to dedicate a weekend per month to these tasks:

• Inspect HVAC filters and change when necessary. If you have a small family and no pets, you may be able to go 2-3 months without changing.
• Clean drains in your shower, bathroom, and kitchen sinks to avoid major plumbing issues down the road
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detector to ensure you and your loved ones are safe. If not monthly, this should be at LEAST twice a year.
• Inspect the seals on your fridge and freezer to ensure it is working and regulating temperature properly

Now moving on to checklists for specific seasons.

Summer Checklist

The weather is warmer, and you’d really rather be hanging out by the pool or out with friends, but checking these few items is worth the (little) time commitment.

Check foundation for drainage issues.
Inspect decks and patios for any damages, peeling paint, or even rotting wood.
Keep an eye on pests and prevent them from taking over by regularly cleaning cobwebs, keeping insect repellant and ant poison handy, and doors/windows closed when possible.
Reverse your ceiling fans (air flowing down).
Consult your refrigerator’s manual on how to clean the coils — and then do it.

Fall Checklist

With the weather cooling off, you have no excuse to slack off on these maintenance tasks.

• Insulate all exposed pipes to prepare for winter
• Check windows and doors for any seal leaks and reseal where necessary
• Remove leaves from gutters and clear areas around basement windows. You’ll want to be more diligent about cleaning gutters throughout the fall season.
• Clean out the garbage disposal by pouring a pot of boiling water and half a cup of baking soda down the drain
• Tidy up your yard and garden by clearing out any overgrowth and covering outdoor furniture

Winter Tasks

It’s hard to do anything but cozy up with hot chocolate and a good movie, but this is the season when major home damage can occur. Make home maintenance a real priority.

• Stay on top of ice dams and icicles as they pose a real danger to you and your home. Checking daily for icicles will not only keep you and your loved ones safe, but can help avoid roof and foundation issues.
• Deep clean and inspect your basement for any moisture intrusion, mold growth, or pests
• Change the direction of ceiling fans (air flowing up)
• Schedule an HVAC service before the end of the season
• Maintain your yard by regularly raking up debris, shoveling snow, cleaning gutters and drainpipes

Spring Tasks

Every Chicagoan knows the toll winter can take on a home, which is why staying on top of things in the warmer days following is so important.

• Get your HVAC system inspected, just before summer. You’ll want that AC in good shape before it’s too late!
• Inspect your driveway, sidewalks, and walkways for any cracks and have them repaired or resealed
• Clean off and seal your deck
• Completely drain your hot water heater in order to remove debris or sedimentary build up. Doing so will lengthen the life of your water heater.
• Test your GFCI outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) by plugging in a lamp and pushing the reset button. GFCI outlets are the ones you’ll find near water sources, usually in bathrooms or kitchens.

Taking on these monthly and seasonal tasks can do wonders for your home and save you time and money on costly repairs.

Would you add anything else to our checklist? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re concerned about your home or ready to schedule your annual inspection, you can do so with our easy online booking tool here.