3 Home Maintenance Tips For Seattle Summers

In summertime, your biggest concern should be about having enough food for your summer party, and not how to handle high utility bills, a rotted deck, or a broken appliance. The key to summer home maintenance in Seattle is prevention. When you inspect and fix small problems, you can avoid bigger, more expensive problems in the future. Here’s 3 summer home maintenance tips that will keep you in control of your home’s maintenance before larger problems start.

1. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Summer is one of the best times in Seattle to work on your home’s energy efficiency in order to keep the heat out and your utility bills low. Begin by inspecting your doors and windows for leaks that let air in. Put weatherstripping on doors or replace cracked weatherstripping if you feel air passing through. Check your windows’ caulking for any cracks or leaks and replace the cracked sections.

Installing energy efficient window treatments like plantation shutters is another way you can reduce your utility bill - and perhaps even get a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters lower 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 which are found in many homes.

2. Spruce Up Your Porches And Patios

If you’re planning on barbecuing on your patio or porch during the summer, make sure it’s prepared for all your guests. Start by checking your patio or deck for safety. Look underneath to see if there are any boards, supports, or steps that need to be replaced because they’re broken or rotting. Give your patio and deck a fresh look and protect it from the hot summer sun and rain by staining or sealing it.

Once you’ve fixed any soft boards and areas and stained your patio, it’s time for the fun part: dressing it up. You can add interest to the windows and doors attached to your porch and patio by adding window treatments like 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 perhaps even a fire pit. The last step is to landscape the edges of your porch or patio to bring in color.

3. Maintain Large Appliances

Appliances that are broken or leak can disrupt your summer plans. Here’s a list of things to watch out for with your major appliances to keep them running smoothly:

● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils can increase your electric bill since your fridge needs to work harder. It’s easy to unclog them by vacuuming them. Begin 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. Check your dishwasher for any backed up water or leaks. Then deep clean and deodorize it by running a cycle with a cup of vinegar. 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. Inspect your washing machine hoses for any leaks, cracks, or bulges. If needed, replace the hoses. Once a year, you should clear out your dryer hose and exterior vent or pay a professional to do the job.

Have A Fun Summer

By maintaining your home and appliances, you’ll be able to have a pleasant summer. If you want to give your home a fresh look this year with window treatments for your patios, dining rooms, or living rooms, look through our idea gallery and then call us for a free in-home consultation at 360-464-2277. We’ll walk you through all your window treatment options in Seattle and do all the work and installation so you can relax and have a pleasant summer.