Drain your hot water heater.

Cold showers and a new hot water heater are in your future (yes, we can predict the future) if you don’t drain your hot water heater. Over time, sediment and minerals build up on the inside of it. These buildups can affect its efficiency and can reduce its lifespan, so drain it at least once a year. Use caution and read the instructions posted directly on the appliance before you take on this task, however. Draining it incorrectly can cause personal injury and damage to the tank. Considering a TANKLESS water heater? Read this first.

Lubricate Your Locks.

You and your lock have to stop fighting. It’s not healthy for the keys involved. With age, locks can stiffen, making them harder to operate. If unaddressed, the stiffness can cause you to break off your key in the lock and will require a service visit from a locksmith. To keep your locks working properly, keep them lubricated. A graphite lubricant works best and will help ensure your key easily slides into the key hole and the lock is able to turn with little to no effort. Already having lock squabbles? Find a locksmith here.

Service and clean your grill.

If not cleaned properly, a grill’s components can become caked in food particles, grease and fats. YUCK! This can negatively impact the food’s taste (no one likes a steak that tastes like fish) and affect how well the grill operates. Before firing up the grill this summer, give it a thorough cleaning and inspection to ensure all of the components are free of clogs and debris. This will keep your grill operating properly and will keep your guests coming back for seconds. If you’re getting ready for summer, tackle some of these tasks, too.

Replace your HVAC system’s filter.

When was the last time you changed the air filter in your HVAC system? If you can’t remember, it’s probably overdue. Air filters remove dust and dirt particles from the air and prevent them from clogging the mechanical components (the most expensive parts) of your HVAC system. A dirty filter will affect the HVAC system’s efficiency, forcing it to run longer and harder to keep up with the home’s cooling needs. This will not only shorten the life of the system, but it will also increase your monthly utility bills DRAMATICALLY. Need other tips for extending the life of your HVAC system? Watch this video.

Check for cracks in your masonry.

Inspect your home for cracks in the foundation and masonry siding. Cracks are usually the result of differential settling or the expansion and contraction of your home’s bricks. If cracks are found, it won’t take all the king’s horses and all the king’s men to put your home back together again, but it WILL probably take a good structural engineer. A structural engineer will be able to evaluate your home and identify the cause of the problem. If settling is the primary cause, a soil engineer could be needed to help. Suspect foundation problems? Read this article.

Inspect playground equipment .

According to the Playground Inspection Professionals, poor maintenance contributes to 40 percent of all playground injuries. You may not have an industrial-sized jungle gym in your backyard, but injuries can occur on even small, simple play sets. Rust, corrosion, protrusions, tripping hazards and rough surfaces can lead to serious injuries for your children or grandchildren so it’s important to inspect your play equipment to ensure it’s in good working order. Regular maintenance can help reduce injuries and extend the lifespan of your child’s swings, slides, monkey bars and more.

Give your A/C system a “tune-up”.

Want to extend the life of your air conditioning unit? Give it a tune-up! A properly maintained heating and cooling system can run more efficiently and have a longer life expectancy. During a typical tune-up visit, your HVAC technician should check your system’s refrigerant levels, clean the condenser coil, replace dirty filters and calibrate your thermostat… among other things. The goal is to ensure your air conditioning system is operating properly and is in tip-top-shape for the warmer weather ahead. Then you can just sit back, worry-free, in your “finely-tuned” and air-conditioned home. Find local HVAC pros in your area.

Get your home pressure-washed.

Sure, pressure-washing your home each year will help remove the dirt, mold and mildew that can build up on the home’s exterior. BUT… pressure-washing can also greatly enhance your home’s curb appeal AND add years to the exterior by eliminating the contaminants that pre-maturely age and deteriorate your home’s building materials. Pressure-washing is best left to the pros, however. If done incorrectly, the high-pressure water cannons can damage the home’s exterior or scar wood fencing or decking. Need a pressure-washing pro in your area? Go here.

Check and service your pool.

CANNON-BALL! Before hitting the pool, have it serviced to ensure your pump, filters and water are ready for the summer ahead. Routine maintenance can increase the lifespan of your pool’s components and greatly improve the quality of the water. Pools with malfunctioning pumps or imbalances in chlorine, pH or alkalinity levels can experience severe water problems that cause swimmers to have burning eyes and throats. Some water conditions can even turn a swimmer’s hair and nails green…YUCK! Don’t have a pool but thinking about installing one? Watch this video. 

Get your carpets and upholstery cleaned by a professional.

You can only flip your sofa cushions or reposition your rugs to cover stains so many times. Sooner or later you’re going to need to get them cleaned. Carpets should be cleaned every 12-18 months, and we’re willing to bet it’s been a lot longer than that since you’ve given your olefin, polyester or sisal rugs any attention. When cleaning your carpets, work with a pro. Do-it-yourself options aren’t always as effective, and if the cleanings are done incorrectly they can cause some big problems. Carpet and upholstery are big investments and both will look better and last longer if properly cleaned. What types of carpet cleaning are available? Read this article.

Paint trim for carpenter bees.

Carpenters of the bee variety are not the type you want working on your home. Carpenter bees burrow into unpainted or unfinished wood around doors, eaves, overhangs and windows (and they won’t even pull a permit for the work they do). Over time, their boring activity can cause structural damage and can leave the wood in the affected area with unsightly holes. Painting or staining wood on the home’s exterior can help discourage carpenter bees from burrowing into your home, but if they are already on site, contact a trained pest control pro.

Cut back vegetation and overgrown bushes.

The phrase, “it’s a jungle out there” shouldn’t refer to your front yard. If it does, then it’s time to grab some clippers (and maybe a Pith helmet) and get to work. Overgrown plants are a major eyesore that can severely impact your home’s curb appeal. Overgrown bushes are often not as healthy as their manicured counterparts, and to make matters worse, some unmaintained plants (think ivy) can damage your home’s siding or masonry work. Need more info on maintaining your lawn and landscape? Go here.

Clean and re-organize your garage.

Is your garage bursting at the seams? Then get it organized. The easiest way to get started is to develop three piles– one for items to keep, one for items to donate and another for throw-aways. When you’re finished, it should be easier to find your tools, access your lawn equipment and (finally!) park your car. In fact, parking inside will protect your automobile from the elements and the damage that sun, rain and hail can have on the car’s exterior.

Check siding for damage.

Siding is subjected to the worst Mother Nature has to offer, so it’s important to inspect it regularly. According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, aluminum siding is the type most easily damaged. However, vinyl and masonry siding can still split or crack, while wood siding can rot or be damaged by wood-destroying insects. If left unrepaired, damaged siding can lead to a laundry list of problems and can even result in expensive structural damage. Check out our siding guide for more info on different types of siding, how to pick a siding contractor, how much you can expect to pay for repair or replacement… and more.

Reseal your deck.

Throw a bucket of water on your decking to see if you need to reseal. If the water beads up, then your sealant is still working. If the water is absorbed by the decking, then it’s time to get some sealant. A deck that isn’t sealed properly is vulnerable to the elements and may experience rotting, warping and splitting. Performing routine maintenance is far cheaper than replacing the deck so make sure you keep your decking in tip-top shape. What exactly WILL a new deck cost you these days? Watch this video.