Hopefully, you are making the most of this summer season, as it’s likely to be over before you realize it. Now, it’s just a couple of weeks before autumn. We are a reputable heating, air conditioning, and plumbing company that has been serving the residents of the greater Atlanta area for the last 32 years. As the end of summer approaches, we like to advise our clients to engage in end-of-summer maintenance to have a more straightforward weather season transition.
Although it might be quite early to do an HVAC tune-up, here are six things that we advise you do for your end-of-summer maintenance. These will help make your home safer and more comfortable throughout fall and winter.
Tidy Up the Gutters
Cleaning your gutters would put them in the best position to handle the fall storms that usually occur in September and October. This means that it can offer proper drainage to any water caught by the roof and prevent water damage caused by overflowing gutters from befalling your home. Tidying up your gutters primarily involves removing leaves and any other debris that can block the water drainage.
You can do the cleaning yourself if you have a ladder and your gutters aren’t too high above. However, we recommend that you get a professional to handle the cleaning if your gutters are more than a story high for your safety. Here are four tips for tidying up your gutters:
1. Once you have removed all the debris from your gutters, inspect them for leaks that can be caused by damaged seams or holes in the gutter.
2. If the gutters have severe rusting, it’s likely there will be numerous holes. Consider replacing the rusted gutters with vinyl or aluminum gutters, as they don’t rust.
3. For damaged seams, remove the old caulking and let the area dry before generously applying new caulking.
4. Fix any loose or lost rivets on the downspout and use a pressure washer to clean the entire system.
Fix Your Patio, Walkways, and Driveway
In contrast to the popular misconception, the summer weather can be pretty harsh on your patio, walkway, and driveway. The high temperatures and increased humidity can lead to increased walkway and driveway cracking, whether it’s made of concrete or asphalt. We advise that you take a proactive approach to fix any issues with your deck, walkway, or driveway before the end of summer. This is because any damage they might have is likely to be amplified through fall and winter, and you will have to deal with expensive maintenance costs later.
Here are five tips on how to fix your driveway:
1. Inspect your driveway for any trouble spots and take note of all oil stains, cracks, and potholes.
2. Thoroughly wash the driveway to remove the oil stains and any other loose materials.
3. Use a commercial concrete or asphalt filler to mend the cracks.
4. Patch up the potholes using a new concrete mix or a ready-to-use asphalt
5. Clean the fixed driveway and let it dry before applying a sealer. Some sealers need two to four days to dry, so check the drying requirements for the product you are purchasing and the weather forecast before applying.
Take Care of Your Landscaping
Cut back the grass any vegetation around your home. This includes trimming any tree branches that are hanging above or next to your roof. This is because they will likely deposit lots of leaves and your roof and gutters during fall and cause other additional problems. Moreover, check for any loose branches and trees in your yard and bring them down safely.
The intense storms in fall and heavy snow in winter could easily bring down such loose branches and trees, which can severely damage your home or that of your neighbor. Repairing a home damaged by a fallen branch or tree during winter is trouble that you are better off avoiding.
Store Your Yard Equipment and Outdoor Toys
Your yard has likely seen a lot of activity for most of the summer. Now that you are done taking care of your landscaping, it’s time to store your yard equipment and outdoor toys. Clean your lawnmower, sharpen its blades, and drain all its fuel before storing it away. We recommend that you store any other gas-powered machines you might have after you have drained their fuel to minimize their risk of catching fire while in storage.
When it comes to your outdoor toys, make sure they are dry and pack them well before storing them. Inflatable toys should be deflated before storage. For the other playsets that you might have to leave outside, cover them well and set them in a position that they won’t have excess snow build-up during winter.
Fix Your Windows
Windows are notorious for developing cracks and openings during summer. These cracks and gaps let warm air from your home escape during fall and winter. Thus, it will be harder for you to have your home’s interior maintain warmer temperatures, which will likely drive up your electricity bills. This is why your end-of-summer maintenance should involve inspecting and fixing your windows.
Caulk up and crack and gaps that you notice on your window. If possible, do the caulking from both inside and outside for cracks and crevices that extend to the outside. If you have high windows, you should have a professional look at them for your safety.
Check Your HVAC
There is a lot to do to prepare your HVAC for fall and winter besides a tune-up. Firstly, replace the batteries on your thermostat, carbon monoxide detectors, and smoke alarms. This would make it easier to detect any other problems with your HVAC system that are already present or might emerge during fall and winter.
Clean the ductwork of your HVAC system and clean or change the air filters. This would improve the efficiency of the system heating up your home and save you money on electricity bills. If you have a fireplace, have it professionally cleaned and inspected. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) advises that you subject your fireplace to a yearly cleaning and inspection. As you will be using your fireplace mostly during fall and winter, there is no better time to do the cleaning and inspection than now.
Over the last couple of years, winter storms have gotten harsher, and you should consider installing a cover for your condenser as part of the end-of-year maintenance. Though many HVAC manufacturers advise against this, we have come across many homeowners whose condensers’ have been devastated by ice storms leading to expensive repairs that could have been avoided by installing a cover.
About Us
We are Atlanta’s number #1 trusted heating, air conditioning, and plumbing experts, providing our customers with round-the-clock services. As a family-owned and family-run business, our priority has always been offering unbeatable expert solutions to residential communities in the greater Atlanta area. Besides this, we provide financing to our clients to promptly get the services they need.
This means that as our customer, you won’t have to worry about not having enough cash denying you the best of your home’s comfort. We have partnered with a registered and approved FHA Title I Lender to offer lucrative loan solutions with favorable interests and extended repayment periods. Reach out to us at Bardi for expert assistance on any heating, air conditioning, or plumbing you have for immediate assistance.
