1. Home Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment
Preparing for Hot Weather

2. You need to inspect your home
As the temperatures outside increase, what do you need to do to get ready for the long hot days of summer? 
You need to inspect your home
Inside and Outside!

3. Why worry about the outside appearance of your home?
You want to be a good neighbor
Keeping your house in good condition improves the neighborhood
You want to protect your investment
Your house is one of your largest investments
You want to save money
Taking care of your house now saves money later

4. Start with the Exterior
Stand on the curb in front of your home and assess the “curb appeal” of your house
Is the paint on your house fading or peeling?
Are shingles missing on the roof?
Is the porch falling off?
Is your driveway full of oil stains?
Do your trees need trimmed?
Walk around the exterior and determine what you need to repair or replace.
Stand on the curb and take a hard look at your house. Does your house look good from the street, or are there leaves in the gutters, dead trees in the yard and peeling paint around the windows. Did you forget to move that old sofa off the front porch? As you are checking your house for curb appeal, take a long hard look at the house itself. Are there things that need repaired or replaced? Did that last wind remove some roof shingles? Keeping up with repairs on a regular basis will help reduce the need for major repairs in the future.

5. Maintaining the Exterior
If you have a brick house, check for loose bricks
Repair or replace loose bricks and mortar
If you have siding, secure any loose pieces
Is your house dirty or has patches of mold or mildew?
WASH It!
Cover your plants and grass before you start and test a small area of your house to make sure the bleach will not cause fading.
Use a 3:1 mixture of water and bleach.
Apply with a brush or garden sprayer.
Allow the mixture to remain on the surface for 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly
Walk around your house and thoroughly inspect the exterior. If you have bricks on your house, make sure there are no loose bricks or cracks. Repair the ones you find. If your house has siding, make sure the siding is securely attached to the structure.
In hot humid climates like Georgia, it is not unusual to see mold or mildew on the outside of your house. It’s a good idea to wash it off with a bleach and water solution. Mix 3 parts of water with 1 part bleach and apply it to an inconspicuous area to see if it causes the paint to fade. If it doesn’t, go ahead and cover your plants and grass near the foundation and spray or brush the solution on. Leave for 20 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

6. Painting the Exterior Why paint?
Paint improves the appearance of your home and protects the wood from the elements and insect damage
Re-paint when paint is cracking, peeling or fading
Paint experts at USDA Forest Products Laboratory found that latex paints are the best choice for wood siding
Latex paint is more porous than oil-based paint, allowing moisture to escape
Oil-based paints become brittle, may yellow as they age and are more prone to mildew
You may find that your house needs painted. Paint is an excellent way to protect the wood from the elements. Researchers at the USDA Forest Products Lab found that latex paints are the best choice for your wood siding. Latex allows moisture to escape; therefore is less prone to mildew. Latex paint is also easier to clean up and better for the environment.
SOURCES: USDA Forest Products laboratory and Paint Quality Institute (

7. Maintaining the Roof Roofing material Replace and repair Remove moss
Most roofs are covered with asphalt shingles that have an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years
Replace and repair
Replace loose shingles to prevent leaks and future water damage
Check flashing around the chimney and vents to make sure there are no gaps where water could enter
Remove moss
Use a 1:1 mixture of bleach and water. Let stand 30 minutes then rinse, taking care to protect the plants below.
Slow the growth by increasing airflow and sunlight.
Now look up at your roof and assess the condition of it. Are the shingles and flashing securely fastened down? Most roofs have asphalt shingles that have an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. Taking time to inspect the roof on an annual basis can help prevent expensive repairs later.
Look for evidence of moss or mold on your roof. If you find any, clean it off with a one to one solution of bleach and water. The best way to keep your roof free from moss is to increase the airflow. This means remove the tree branches that hang over the roof to allow more sunlight and air to reach it.
SOURCE: asphaltroofing.org/questions.html Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association

8. Exterior Maintenance Remove debris from the gutters
Make sure the downspouts carry the water away from the foundation of your house
Inspect the foundation for cracks and if found, investigate to determine the cause of the crack
Now it is time to take a look at the gutters and downspouts. Have you removed all the leaves and debris from your gutters? Clean gutters help carry rainwater into the downspouts and away from your foundation. It’s a good idea to have the downspouts carry the water several feet from your foundation. You don’t want excess moisture to accumulate around the foundation. If you find large cracks in your foundation, investigate to find out the cause.

9. Crawl Space
Crawl under your house or go into your basement and check for any evidence of water, mildew or mold
If you find mold, track down the source of moisture and remove it.
Check the insulation and add more if needed
Don’t make a habit of making repairs and then leaving the debris under your house
If you have a crawl space, crawl under your house and look around. Is it damp under your house? If you find mold or water, investigate to track down the source and remove it. This is a good time to check the insulation and add more if you need to, or secure any loose pieces.

10. Maintaining your Yard Inspect the trees near your house
Remove dead branches and those that overhang your roof
Shrubs and flower beds
Trim spring blooming shrubs after they finish blooming
Weed flower beds
Fertilize the grass
Repair leaky faucets
Fence
Check for evidence of termite damage
Repair loose or missing boards and sections of the fence
Now look at the yard. Have you trimmed your trees and shrubs? This should be done before they begin to leaf out in the spring. Remove branches that are near your house or overhang the roof. They could break off in a wind storm and damage the house. Remove the weeds and dead plants from your flower beds. You will fertilize your grass some time in the spring. When, depends on what type of grass you have. If you don’t know, contact your county extension agent. UGA Cooperative Extension has lots of information on grass, tree and plant care and maintenance.
If you have a wood fence, walk the fence line and look for loose boards and evidence of termites. This is a good time to reconnect your outside hoses and repair those leaky faucets.

11. Clean your Deck
If you have a deck made of wood, this is a good time to wash it and apply stain or paint if needed
Power wash
Effective at removing surface dirt, mildew, paint & stain
Use caution, it can take the finish off along with the dirt
Chemical wash
Chlorine bleach kills mildew, but can lighten the wood
Sodium percarbonate products use oxygen bleach to remove mildew and don’t damage the wood
Oxalic acid is good for cedar and redwood, but it will need to be used with a cleaner that kills mildew
**Use caution when using chemical washes.**
Do you have a deck? How long has it been since you washed it? If your deck is looking old and worn, you can give it a quick pick me up just by washing it. You can rent a power washer and use that; however, because of the high pressure, a power washer can remove paint or stain along with the dirt. Chemical washes work well, but be sure to cover the plants and grass around your deck to protect them from the chemicals.
Product Examples from the Household Products database <
Sodiaum percarbonate product: Wolman Deck/Siding Brightener/Rejuvenator (powder)
Oxalic acid products:
Cabot Problem Solver Wood Brightener No (liquid)
Wolman All Exterior Wood Deck & Fence Brightener (liquid)

12. Garage & Driveway Clean and organize your garage Remove oil stains
Step 1: Apply hydrated lime and leave for one day. Sweep it up. Repeat as needed to absorb excess oil.
Step 2: Remove remaining stain by applying a poultice of 1 part trisodium phosphate to 6 parts each of water and lime. Let dry and scrub off with clean water.
Tough stains: use paint stripper or tar removal products with xylene or methylene chloride
If you can’t fit your car in the garage, then it’s time to clean it out and have a garage sale. An organized garage will make it easier for you to find things and increase your usable space. Plus your car won’t be sitting in the hot sun this summer.
Motor oil is a difficult stain to remove from concrete. The Portland Cement Association recommends covering the spot with an absorbent material such as hydrated lime or calcium carbonate. Let it stand for a day and then sweep it up. Repeat this process until the absorbent material does not change color. If a light stain remains, make a poultice of one part trisodium phosphate to six parts of water and six parts lime. Apply the paste to the oil stain and let dry. Scrub off with water. For sever stains, use paint stripping or tar removal products that contain xylene or methylene chloride.
SOURCE: Portland Cement Association (
PRODUCT EXAMPLES:
Hydrated lime - Quikrete Chemically Hydrated Lime No (powder)
Trisodium phosphate - Parks Driveway Cleaner (liquid)

13. Windows Inspect trim (inside and outside) for insect damage
Replace broken windows
Remove storm windows and replace with window screens
Inspect all your windows and trim, looking for evidence of insect damage, loose trim and broken or cracked windows.

14. Pest Patrol
Inspect interior and exterior walls and the crawl space or basement for pests.
Termites
Cockroaches and other crawling things
Rodents
Insects and rodents are common pests in homes. Some come in to get out of the cold and some to get out of the heat. Look in your crawl space, basement, attic and garage for mouse droppings and roaches. Look around the foundation for evidence of termites. They build tunnels up the side of your house to gain entry into the framing. In Georgia, termites are very common. You may want to consider a termite bond. A bond is when you pay an annual fee to a termite inspection company to monitor and control termite activity.
NOTE: UGA Extension has several publications and resources on pests.

15. Air Conditioner Maintenance
Have a professional service your air conditioner before you start using it this summer
Replace the air filter
Change it again in 3 months
Keeping your home cool this summer begins with proper care and maintenance of your air conditioner. You should have a licensed professional inspect your air conditioner at the beginning of the season. This a good time to replace the air filter. You should replace it again in 3 months.

16. Water & Electrical Repair leaky faucets Test your water supply
Contact your local county extension office for more information
Check circuit breaker or fuse box
Label switches
Tighten all those loose fixtures and replace the washers in the leaky faucets. This will help reduce your water bill this summer. As you are saving water, be sure to have your water tested, this is especially important if you use well water. For more information contact your local county extension office. A water test identifies the minerals and other substances present in your water supply.
You probably won’t have a fuse box unless you live in an older home. If you have never labeled the switches or fuses in your box, take time to label them. It helps in the middle of an electrical emergency to be able to flip the right switch.

17. Appliances Refrigerator and freezer Vacuum coils
Inspect door seals/gaskets
Dollar bill test
Flashlight test
At least once a year you should clean the coils of your refrigerator and freezer. If you have a pet you should do it more often, since pet hair can easily accumulate on the coils and reduce the efficiency of your refrigerator.
The door seals should fit snuggly. There are several ways to check to see if the seals are working. You can place a dollar bill between the gasket and the door. Close the door and try to pull the bill out. You should feel some tension as you pull the dollar bill out, if you don’t then you should replace the gasket.
Another way to check is the flashlight test. Switch the flashlight on and place it on the top shelf in the refrigerator. Close the door. If you can see light around the door, the gasket is not fitting tightly enough.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy <

18. Home Safety Develop an evacuation plan
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, residential fires represented about 83% of all fire deaths in 2005
PROTECT YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILY!
Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Change batteries
Make sure you have smoke detectors outside bedroom and near kitchen
Recharge the Fire Extinguisher
Buy an emergency ladder if you have a two-story house
Finally, ask yourself if your home is equipped for an emergency. Would you hear the smoke alarm in the event of a fire? Would every member of you family know what to do in a fire, tornado, flood or hurricane? Make sure you have an evacuation plan that all family members are aware of. Your plan should cover how to get out of your house if it is filled with smoke, a location where all family members should meet and what to do in a tornado.
The most common disaster is fire. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were almost 400,000 residential fires in 2005 that resulted in 3,055 deaths, 13,825 injuries, and $6.8 million dollars in lost property.
So, don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector. If you don’t have one, this is the time to install both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector. Smoke detectors should be placed near the kitchen and bedrooms. If you have a two-story house you should purchase an emergency ladder and place it near a window that opens.

19. For more information, talk to your local Cooperative Extension Agent.
The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences & Family and Consumer Sciences offer educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.
An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force
HACE-E May 2007
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Dr. Scott Angle, Dean and Director