
3 Home Maintenance Tips For Bakersfield Summers
In summertime, your biggest concern should be about how many guests are coming to your deck party, and not how to handle high utility bills, a rotted deck, or a broken appliance. Prevention is the key to summer home maintenance in Bakersfield. By inspecting and fixing small issues you see, you can guard against larger, more expensive projects in the future. Here’s 3 home maintenance tips for summer that help you stay in control of your house’s maintenance before larger problems happen.
1. Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Summer is the perfect time in Bakersfield to make your home more energy efficient so that you can keep the heat out and your utility bills low. Start by checking your windows and doors for leaks that let air through. Add weatherstripping to doors or replace broken weatherstripping if you feel air passing through. Check your windows’ caulking for any cracks or missing pieces and replace the broken sections.
You can also lower your utility bill by using an energy efficient window treatment like plantation shutters - and perhaps even get a tax credit. Polywood® faux wood plantation shutters lower the transfer of air through your windows. They’re 70% more energy efficient than normal wooden shutters and 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds which many homes currently use.
2. Enhance Your Patios And Porches

If you want to barbecue on your patio or deck this summer, ensure it’s in the best shape for your guests. Begin by checking your patio or deck for safety. Look underneath to see if there are any boards, supports, or steps that need to be replaced because they’re broken or rotting. Give your patio and deck a fresh look and protect it from the summer sun and rain by staining or sealing it.
After you’ve replaced or repaired any damaged boards and areas and sealed your patio, you’re ready for the fun part - making it shine. Add interest to the windows and doors next to your porch and patio by adding window treatments such as sidelight shutters or plantation shutters for your sliding door or french doors. Then make your porch or patio a haven by bringing in your favorite patio furniture or a fire pit. Finally, landscape the area around your patio or porch to cheer up the space.
3. Maintain Large Appliances
Appliances that are broken or leak can put a damper on your summer activities. Here’s a few things to do to maintain your major appliances and keep them humming along:
● Refrigerator. Clogged refrigerator coils make your fridge work harder than necessary and increase your electric bill. It’s easy to unclog them by vacuuming them. Unplug your refrigerator and then use the crevice tool on your vacuum (or a coil cleaning brush attachment) to vacuum out and unclog the coils.
● Dishwasher. Inspect your dishwasher for any lines that are leaking or backed up water. Then deodorize and deep clean it by adding a cup of vinegar to a cycle. You’ll also want to empty and clean the filter (located under the spray arms in most dishwashers) with soap and water.
● Washer and dryer. Check your washing machine hoses for any cracks, leaks, or bulges. If needed, replace the hoses. Once a year, you should clean out your dryer hose and exterior vent or have a professional do the job.
Have A Fun Summer
By preventing large problems with your home and appliances, you can enjoy a pleasant summer. And if you want to give your home a beautiful look this year with window treatments for your patios, kitchens, or bedrooms, look through our idea gallery and then call us for a free in-home consultation at 661-449-1092. We’ll show you all your window treatment options in Bakersfield and do all the measuring and installation so you can just relax and enjoy your summer.