An All Season Home Maintenance Guide

A season-by-season guide that will help ensure you keep up with all the tasks needed to protect your home and family. Summer is the time for tornadoes, fires, and family. Autumn is the time for cooling weather with deciduous leaf fall and other yard debris. It is also the time for storms with power outages and tree fall. Winter is the season when many of us are trapped inside our homes with the heat running and allergens. Flu season comes and goes. Ensure you are fire safe and on time. Winter is the time of snow and resultant damage. Spring is when you finally can turn off the heat, if you're lucky. Ensure you protect your loved ones and your home by paying attention. A truly loved home is one in which you've touched every part of it.

Summer Family and Home Protection Maintenance

If you live in tornado country, ensure your family is aware of where you will shelter from the winds. Check your emergency supplies are up to date and plentiful.

If you live in fire country, now is the time to ensure that your property has an adequate fire protection perimeter. Remove any highly flammable plants such as Fir, Manzanita, Scotch Broom, Eucalyptus, Sumac and Rosemary. The Sunset Western Landscaping Guide provides helpful information about plants that work well in potential fire areas. Build up your home resistance to fire by planting wind blocks and dense growth that provide shade.

Protect your home's exterior with a good exterior coat of paint or oil. Ensure your weather protection is up to date by sealing around doors and windows. Check your doors for warping and ensure they fit closed. Watch for bugs and bubbled paint that may indicate water damage.

Protect your roof by ensuring that all access to the roof is covered by wire mesh to keep out rodents and birds looking to nest.

Autumn Family and Home Protection Maintenance

If you live in hurricane territory, check that you have adequate coverage for your windows.