Important Summer Maintenance Tasks

Now that summer is in full swing, it’s important to make sure your home is taken care of for the hot Summer months. Valley Chimney can help cross these tasks off of your list as you enjoy Summer, but also take care of your home. Below are some maintenance tips, you might want to consider doing now rather than later.

Inspect Air Conditioners – This is especially important to do, no one likes to be in a hot room or home. Remove and clean air filters before using the AC, or call an HVAC professional for a thorough inspection.

Remove Unwanted Guests – Animals and unwanted guests can nest in your chimney and around your home during the summer months, birds, bats, squirrels, raccoons, and other small animals seek warm, safe and inviting places to hide out from nature. If you don’t already have a chimney cap or chimney screen, it’s time to get one. Installing one of these items is the best way to ward off these unwanted guests.

Look For Leaks – Leaks can be a common occurrence. Make sure you check your hoses and exterior faucets for leaks. One tiny drip can add up to a big waste of water, stop those leaks now.

Clean Your Dryer Vent – This should be done regularly, about once a year is recommended depending on the size of the house and the dryer usage. Dryer vents accumulate highly flammable lint and one of the leading causes to dryer fires is lint buildup. Not only can a dryer vent cause a fire, but it can also burn out the heating element.

Check Your Roof – There’s no doubt about it, the Illinois weather has been brutal. The rain, the hail, and wind have wreaked havoc on roofs, leaving homes with loose tiles and shingles. Have your roof checked to make sure there are no leaks when the rain comes again.

Get Your Chimney Cleaned – Usually, you’re not using your chimney during the summer months, but you should plan on getting your chimney cleaned between April-October. The biggest reason why is because the chimney sweeps aren’t as busy as they are during the winter months. Having your chimney annually cleaned can prevent chimney fires, creosote buildup and more.

Check Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Okay, this isn’t just a summer maintenance tip, but this is just as important. Replace the batteries or the detectors themselves if needed. It’s important to make sure they’re working properly.

Some of these maintenance tasks don’t have to be done during the summer, but while you have some downtime, during these summer months it’s time to take care of these tasks.

Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration is here to help, our team of professional chimney sweeps are equipped to clean your chimney, and inspect and/or clean your dryer vent. To schedule your chimney cleaning, contact Valley Chimney today!