Ponderosa...At Home

The summer season is just around the corner! Now’s the perfect time to get your house ready before the warm weather hits, and we’ve gathered some great seasonal maintenance tips.

During the summer months, you’ll be using the outdoor spaces of your home just as much as the indoor. Start off by doing away with any yard debris and giving all your trees, bushes and plants a good trim. Getting rid of any overgrowth or fallen leaves and twigs will help keep the bugs and critters away. Plus, pruning keeps your yard looking nicely landscaped and the plants healthy in the long run.

Porches, walkways, patios and driveways—keeping these surfaces clean boosts your home’s curb appeal and makes your outdoor spaces more inviting. Sweep away any free-floating debris and then use a pressure washer with detergent. Scrubbing with soap and water should do the trick for any stubborn embedded dirt.

Next up is windows. Wash both the interior and exterior of all your windows with warm water and soap so you can keep an extra close eye on the kids when they’re playing outside. And don’t forget about the window screens. Hot, soapy water and a brush will have them looking brand new.

Since you’re more likely to turn on your air conditioner during the summer months, this is the time to inspect your windows and doors. Adding fresh sealant to any cracks or gaps will keep any cool air from escaping—and ultimately save energy and money. This will also help keep hot air and unwanted pests out of your house.

Don’t let the air quality inside your home add to those summer allergies. Take a damp rag to all ceiling fans and clean the vents and filters before firing up the air conditioner. It’s never a bad idea to get your air conditioner inspected by a professional to ensure that your unit is working properly, safely and efficiently.

Prepping your home for the season can be a lot of work. But once you’ve gone through all the steps, you can sit back, relax and play it cool this summer!

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Summer’s here and temperatures are rising! Now that the days are warm, it’s important to keep the interior and exterior of your new home well maintained. From leaves and flowers to food and drinks, make sure you’re cleaning off exposed surfaces so heat doesn’t make unnecessary stains on your patio and furniture.

Tidy up the yard by pruning and trimming trees and shrubbery. This will make it look landscaped and ensure the longterm health and growth of your plants.

Keep the hot air out and cool air in by taking care of your AC. Not only will you help lengthen its lifecycle but you’ll also keep it running more efficiently – for a cooler home and less energy costs. Change the  filters monthly and clean the buildup of dust and grime on the vents, this increases the air-quality and is crucial for those with allergies. Scheduling  annual AC checkups with a licensed technician will help avoid any bigger repair costs in the future and give you peace of mind.

Now’s the time to check your windows. You’ll want to make sure they’re closing properly so you don’t waste energy by trying to cool off the outside. Test the window sealants and look for any small openings along the bottom and sides. Lastly, double check the weather-stripping to make sure it’s in good condition.

As always, it’s important for safety to check your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regulary throughout the year, but it’s vital to check them during the summer due to the heat and dry conditions. Make sure batteries are fresh and that everything’s in working order by testing your detectors.

With these summer maintenance tips, it should be smooth sailing all summer long.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.