The Top 10 Home Maintenance Tasks to Tackle This Summer

Now summer 2024 is here, it’s worth considering some of the most suitable home maintenance tasks you’ll want to take on this summer.

Let’s explore ten of the best tasks to consider!

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1. Airconditioning Updates and Services

If you have air conditioning, it may be worth considering an update or a service to keep it running as efficiently as possible.

As the reality of climate change looms upon us, it will be increasingly important for Britons to consider air conditioning and what they can do to keep cool during summer heatwaves.

While this is especially important for older adults and those who are otherwise vulnerable to high temperatures, heat waves can pose a danger to anyone.

2. Declutter Your Home

Along with making your home perfect for visitors who may pop by during the summer (especially if you intend to hold summer parties/evenings with friends and family), a decluttered home can bring more peace of mind.

Decluttering isn’t simply a matter of cleaning as you go, but also finding items, furniture, and fittings that may no longer be of use. In that case, either throw them in the bin or (if in decent condition) give them to a charity or charity shop.

3. Clean and Prepare Your Decking or Patio

If you have a decking or patio in your garden, now is the perfect time to clean and prepare it for those gorgeous summer days when you’d love to have some friends over.

Firstly, inspect your decking/patio for signs of damage. If there are any, you’ll want to check with the manufacturer’s instructions as to how the specific defects you’ve found can be addressed. In some cases (particularly for significant damage), you’ll likely need to hire a professional.

Beyond that, you’ll want to clean your deck or patio with a garden hose. You may also want to scrub it using a large brush with a suitable cleaning product. And then, you could hose it down all the same.

After all this, thoroughly wash the brush to fully remove the cleaning product from its bristles. Not only that but after an initial wash, you’ll want to apply a mild soap or dish detergent. Use another brush to ensure the soap/detergent fully encompasses the bristles throughout their full length. Rinse again and then shake or pat dry with a towel.

Once all this is done and your patio/decking is completely dry, it’s time to bring out a table, chairs, sun umbrella, or whichever fixtures you’d like to prepare your garden for the summer!

4. Boiler Service

Getting your boiler serviced in the summer is a smart move for a few good reasons. First off, since you don't need your heating as much, it's usually easier to book an appointment with an engineer without a long wait.

Plus, any repairs or part replacements can be done well before you need to turn the heating on, so you won't have to deal with unexpected breakdowns when it's freezing outside. Regular maintenance in the summer can also make your boiler run more efficiently, which might help lower your energy bills. By getting it sorted out now, you can relax knowing your boiler will be ready to keep you warm all winter long.

5. General Clean

Whatever the season, giving your home a thorough clean (beyond the usual) can really enhance the space and give it a fresh, exciting, and revitalised look and feel, only adding to those good feel summer vibes!

Aside from simply cleaning down the countertops and mopping the kitchen floor, you’ll want to consider potential cleaning jobs that are easy to overlook.

Some examples worth considering include:

• Cleaning the surface and inside of your kitchen cabinets.
• Emptying out your freezer and fridge and properly cleaning it. *
• Give your lamp shades a good clean - with the light bulbs off!
• Dust off frame artworks.
• Remove dust from books on bookshelves.
• Underside of furniture **

*Please be sure not to leave out the fridge or frozen items for too long, or else they risk becoming unsafe to eat.

**To turn heavy furniture on its side, always work with a second person and bend your knees when lifting.

You should follow the specific instructions laid out by the manufacturer (if applicable) for any of the above cleaning steps.

6. Repair and Paint Garden Woodwork

Whether it be fencing, doors, window frames or even your garden shed, the early summer is a great time to give them a new lease of life by repairing any defects and giving them a fresh coat or two of paint.

Naturally, these improvements can help refresh the feel and look of your garden as a whole.

7. Have Your Insulation Inspected/Improved

We often associate insulation with serving its purpose in winter. However, good insulation also matters a ton during the summer. High-quality insulation protects your home by keeping heat out during the summer while keeping heat in during the winter.

Of course, you may not have to budget for a full insulation upgrade (e.g., new loft or wall insulation). However, low-cost measures can help too. For instance, you can add draught excluders to doors or seals and draught excluders to windows.

8. Pruning Gardening

It’s also worth cutting back trees, bushes, and climbing plants if you're concerned that they may expand to grow over your gutters or windows.

9. Repointing Brickwork

Another job worth considering is to hire a professional to repoint your brickwork to give your home’s exterior a fresher and more aesthetically pleasing look ahead of the summer and seasons beyond.

10. Play Equipment

Last but not least, if you have kids, inspect all summer play equipment that you’ve likely kept in the shed for the better part of a year.

Whether it be a trampoline, slide, or swimming pool, check out all relevant equipment and ensure they’re in working order and safe before the kids go wild this summer.