After buying a home in Texas, you’ll become responsible for the maintenance. There are certain things you need to get done every single year or you could end up with a big, expensive issue. Here’s a look at some of the most important annual home maintenance items you simply cannot ignore.
Summer
During the summer in Texas, there are plenty of things you want to get done around your home. It may be hot, but you still need to keep your home in tip-top shape. A few things to handle in the summer include:
- Clean your ducts
- Sweep the chimney
- Check your heating systems
- Clean the clothes dryer vent
- Clean your garage
You need to be prepared for the first day where the temperature drops in the fall and your heating system becomes a necessity.
Fall
Preparing for the winter season happens in the fall. During the fall, you want to maintain your Texas home by:
- Winterizing your A/C system
- Store any window A/C units
- Flush and store any hoses
- Clean your gutters
- Inspect your fireplace
- Check the roof
While it may not get super cold in Texas during the winter (depending on where you live) ice, snow, and freezing temperatures are possible.
Winter
During the winter, your focus has to change, as the temperatures may dip down below freezing. Texas doesn’t see a long or super cold winter, but you still need to be prepared. A few maintenance items for the winter include:
- Break any icicles that form
- Clean deposits from inside showerheads
- Check your foundation for cracks
- Cover your outdoor A/C unit with a tarp and use bungees to secure the tarp
You may not have to deal with much ice, depending on where you live, but you should be aware of the things needing to be done for your home in the winter.
Spring
It’s spring cleaning time and that’s exactly what your home needs. The spring is the perfect time to handle the following tasks:
- Have the A/C unit serviced and get it ready for summer
- Check your gutters and drainage
- Test your sump pump, if you have hone
- Inspect your windows and screens
- Check the grout in your kitchen and bathrooms
- Inspect the driveway and sidewalks
This is also a good time to do a whole-house cleaning.
Annual Care for Your Texas Home
While the seasonal tasks above are a great start, there are a few other things to add to the checklist for your home’s annual maintenance. Some of the other things to make sure you do on a yearly basis include:
- Lubricate garage door springs
- Drain your hot water heater and clean out sediment
- Check for signs of termites and other pests
- Clean the septic tank
- Clean all appliances and lights
- Replace batteries in smoke/carbon dioxide detectors
- Vacuum refrigerator coils
With the right home maintenance checklist for Texas, you’ll be able to keep your home in tip-top shape. Make sure to take care of cleaning specific areas of your home as neglecting something, such as your gutters, could cause a major issue and an expensive repair.