Summer: Miscellaneous To-Do’s
During the summer months, you won’t be as busy as the others… unless you count feeling anxious about wildfires as being busy. If there’s anything you couldn’t finish from the spring preparedness guide, now is the time to do it.
Exterior Preparedness
Do This Exterior Maintenance Every Summer
You should always be on alert for energy leaks from cracks in exterior surfaces. Have an energy audit performed if you haven’t had a chance to do so yet. Additionally, seal your decks and patios to make them last longer and fare better during storms.
Keep your yard mowed and clear of debris to reduce the possibility of your home catching fire, in the event of a wildfire. Keep a 30′ radius as a firebreak around your home, if at all possible. If you have close neighbors, make sure debris in their yards doesn’t pose a threat to your community’s fire safety.
Summer is a great time to perform car maintenance, as well. Cars are a huge part of emergency preparedness for most families, but it’s easy to ignore things when they don’t seem like pressing problems. Don’t let a “check engine” light foil your escape when you really need to evacuate.
Do This Exterior Maintenance Every Few Years in Summer
Summer storms can cause overgrown foliage to damage your home and property. Prune trees and shrubs that might overhang your home, driveway, or other exterior structures.
Paint can protect your house from some types of damage. If your paint is wearing, schedule painting for late summer so the paint cures properly. Homes should be repainted at least every ten years.
Some home maintenance for disaster preparedness tasks may be easier to complete in summer than other seasons; keep a running list or set specific dates on your calendar to make sure you are able to complete all of your projects, if they get pushed to a season with friendlier weather.
Interior Preparedness
Do This Interior Maintenance Every Summer
Your home’s appliances can be another source of energy waste. Check and clean the filters and vents for interior appliances like kitchen ranges, dryer vents, and refrigerators.
Make sure your AC is cooling properly! While it’s on, check each vent to ensure cool air is flowing.
