June has arrived and summer is just around the corner. Here are some early summer chores that will let you enjoy the outdoors sooner rather than later. With the start of summer coming many people are focusing their chores on the outside, here are some to focus on the inside.
Switch ceiling fan blades. Switch them topush the cool air downwhere you can enjoy it more. Watch the fan while its running; in the summer you want the leading edge of theblade higher than the trailing edge.
Clean dryer vents. You probably alreadyknow to remove thelint from thetrap but did you know you also need toclean the dryer hose that pipes warm air to the dryer. Also clean the area beneath the filter with a lint-trap brush, make sure to get a brush that fitsyourparticular lint trap.
Tune up yard and garden equipment. If your mower has gas left from last fall, empty itbefore addingfresh fuel (Gas becomes stale after a month.) If possible run the mower until the gas runs dry, if not purchase a siphon. Bring your old gas to the hazardous waste center. To keep your mower running longer clean it, don't cut wet grass, frequently wipe down the mower and underside (when it's off), change the oil each spring, change sparkplugs every season, and replaceair filtersevery other year.
Sharpen mowerblades. Properly cutgrass needs lesswater. Manufactures recommendreplacing blades every year if the mower is used frequently.Check your blades often to make sure. If you blades are ragged, your mower is dull. You can extend the life by having your blades sharpened. Before you remove the blades tosharpen remove the sparkplug so you don't jump start it. Also, wear safety goggles.
Clean and inspect gutters. Take advantage ofdry weather to cleanout gutters to protect your home from mold androt. Use agarden trowel or your hand toremove the debris. Scrubgutters with a metal brush and slosh waterthrough to finish the job. Wheninspecting your gutters look for joints separating, loose connections, attachments, sags, dips, or corrosion. Consider gutter guards if your gutters fill up frequently.
Inspect roof for leaks. Scan with binoculars for damage. To check stability, stand across the street and look at the roof line.
Check for foundation cracks. Make a yearly check for hairline cracks. Call a structural engineer if you find any of the following problems:
- a crack wider than the thickness of your fingernail
- horizontal cracks
- a stair-step crack that break bricks, blocks or solid concrete
- a pattern of cracks that rounds a corner
- a crack with one side higher than the other
- a crack that starts narrow and grows wider
Scrub the decks and porches. On a sunny day, wipe down and hose off lawn, garden and deck furniture. Sweep decks and porches. Inspect wood decks and porches for rot by pressing the wood with your hand, foot or a tool to find any soft spots. Gently probe soft spots with a screwdriver to learn the extent of the damage. Paint stores carry epoxy putty used to harden, seal and stabilize rotted wood. If you're painting your deck, scrub it down first.
Seal decks against weather. Wood decks need to be painted or stained every two or three years - more often if they face extreme weather.
Comments(2)