3 Home Maintenance Tips For Fort Lauderdale Summers

In summer, your biggest care should be about having enough food for your summer party, and not how to repair a rotted deck or a leaky appliance. Prevention is the key to summer home maintenance in Fort Lauderdale. By inspecting and fixing little issues, you can avoid bigger, more expensive projects in the future. Here’s 3 summer home maintenance tips that will keep you on top of your house’s maintenance before larger problems occur.

1. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Summer is a great time in Fort Lauderdale to increase your home’s energy efficiency in order to keep your home cool and lower your energy bills. Start by checking your doors and windows for air leaks. Add weatherstripping to doors or replace brittle weatherstripping if you feel air passing through. Check your windows’ caulking for any cracks or missing pieces and replace the broken sections.

You can also reduce your utility bill by using an energy efficient window treatment like plantation shutters - and potentially get a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters reduce the transfer of air through your window’s glass. 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. Brighten Up Your Patios And Decks

If you want to barbecue on your patio or deck during the summer, ensure it’s ready for guests. Begin by checking your deck or patio for safety. See if there are any supports, boards, or stairs that need to be replaced because they’re broken and can’t bear weight. Then stain or seal your patio and deck to give it a new look and shield it from the bright summer sun and rain.

Once you’ve replaced any soft boards and areas and stained your patio, you’re ready for the fun part - making it shine. You can add interest to the windows and doors next to your patio and porch by using window treatments such as plantation shutters for your sliding door or french doors or sidelight shutters. Then make your porch or patio a haven by bringing in new patio furniture or a fire pit. The last step is to landscape the edges of your patio or porch to make it more colorful.

3. Maintain Large Appliances

Appliances that are broken or leak can put a damper on your summer activities. Here’s some things to check for with your major appliances to keep them running smoothly:

● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils can increase your utility bill by making your fridge work harder. It’s easy to clean and 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 the coils.

● Dishwasher. Check your dishwasher for any leaks or backed up water. Then deodorize and deep clean it by adding a cup of vinegar to a cycle. Finally, clean out the filter (located underneath the spray arms in most models) with soap and water.

● Washer and dryer. Check your washing machine hoses for any cracks, leaks, or bulges. If needed, replace the hoses. You should clear out 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 want to give your house a new look this year with window treatments for your patios, kitchens, or bedrooms, look through our idea gallery and then contact us for a free in-home consultation at 561-440-8535. We’ll walk you through all your window treatment options in Fort Lauderdale and do all the measuring, work, and installation so you can sit back and enjoy your summer.