Your June Maintenance Guide for 2016

Enjoy Your Home this Summer by Focusing on These Projects First.

By Anne Reagan

Is your home ready for summer? June is a month filled with longer hours of sunlight (this year Summer Solstice is June 20th), making it ideal for getting projects done out in the yard. You may find that your home’s exterior needs some TLC like pressure washing, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, or painting. While the weather is good, hire someone to get these projects done or do them yourself. Inside the home, you may find yourself trying to get out your summer gear and wishing your garage or attic were a bit more organized. If you have a weekend to tackle a big organizational project like that, do it!






Here are some other great projects to work on this month.

Inspect the exterior siding

Making repairs to the exterior siding is important, and early summer may be a great time to get this done. Rain, snow, sun and other conditions can seriously damage your siding. Improving it will provide greater protection and lead to improved curb appeal. Exterior siding usually needs a fresh coat of paint or stain to help protect the material and add to the overall curb appeal. How often you’ll need to paint largely depends on the material itself. Consult a professional painter if you aren’t sure what your siding needs.

Service the hot water tank

Both standard tank and tankless hot water heaters need to be annually serviced so that performance and efficiency is maintained. Drain (then refill) the tank annually to remove mineral deposits; do this more frequently if your water supply is hard and saturated with minerals.  Test the pressure-relief valve periodically. If you have a gas-powered hot water tank, have your professional inspect and test for carbon monoxide leaks.

Check for water leaks inside and out

Even a slow leak from a dripping faucet can waste nearly 3,000 gallons of water a year, adding up to higher utility bills. Check sinks, toilets, appliances and outdoor faucets for leaks and get them fixed right away. If you are in the market to replace any of these fixtures, look for one with a WaterSense label. If you have a sprinkler or irrigation system in your yard, inspect or replace the sprinkler heads and valves and fix any water leaks.

Refill the heated oil tank

In the summer months, condensation can form inside the tank, leading to excess water in the tank. Keeping this tank full during the warmer months will help alleviate that issue and protect the tank from corrosion. Call your local heating oil delivery service company to schedule delivery.