As an Aiken home contractor, Donnie Shaffer Homes wants to help you get the most out of your beautiful custom home. We still talk with customers who we built for as far back as 20 years ago to help them keep their house in gorgeous shape.
Over the years, we have learned some of the top home maintenance tips that you need to know. As the weather becomes that infamous scorching hot temperature of the South, these tips from an Aiken home contractor are especially helpful.
Reverse and Clean Your Ceiling Fan
It’s a good idea to reverse the direction of your ceiling fan during the summer so that it spins counter-clockwise. This pushes the air straight down, creating a nice breeze. Clean all ceiling fans and other fans with a damp rag.
Maintain Your Windows
Summer is the perfect time of year to wash your windows from the outside. This is one of those things that doesn’t get done very often, so you may need to use a little elbow grease to get your windows squeaky clean. Simply fill a bucket with hot soapy water and get scrubbing.
Be sure to wash the screens as well. Washing your exterior windows won’t make much of a difference if you don’t also wash your window screens. Take off all your window screens to your house and gently scrub them with hot soapy water.
One of the key items in this maintenance is routinely checking the sealants. Ensure that both inside and out are secure and caulk any open areas in between. Also, check weather-stripping for any cracks and replace it immediately if there is an issue.
Use a Pressure Washer
An important element of maintaining your home’s exterior is to routinely clean off the dirt, stains, and mildew from the siding, soffit and fascia. The easiest way to do this is to use a pressure washer.
Check Detectors
To better keep your home in Aiken, SC safe, check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re working properly.
Service Your Heating and Air
We recommend changing your air filters every month. It’s a good idea to get your heating and air serviced by a professional at least once a year. You do not want your air conditioning to go out during summer in Aiken! Seriously, temperatures get up to over 100 degrees during July and August.
We suggest that you have a maintenance contract with your heating and air person to save some money and have continual checkups. As an Aiken home contractor, we use Quality Heating and Air Conditioning. We contact them for all of our air needs because of their excellent customer service and commitment to making your house as energy efficient as possible.
Make Sure Your Caulking Is Up-To-Date
Caulk is a waterproof filler and sealant used in different areas of the home like the flashing on the chimney to seal this area from water and/or air leaking through. The thunderstorms we get in Aiken during the months of April to August can be especially hard on the exterior of your home, triggering leaks that can cause intense damage. Strong heat or cold can also cause problems.
We suggest checking your roof yourself every couple of months and having a professional check it once a year. If you spot dry/cracked areas or broken/missing shingles, call a repairman immediately to check it out. Catching problems early on can save you a fortune in repairs.
We hope that you use these tips from Aiken home contractor Donnie Shaffer and that you have a wonderful summer in your custom-built home. If you would like to contact a home contractor in Aiken, SC, call Donnie Shaffer homes at (803) 643-1718 or email lori@donnieshaffer.com.
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