Tips for summer home maintenance

The weather is finally nice here in Calgary so we’re all excited to get things done. It’s time for those home maintenance tasks you’ve been putting off for the last year. We know the list can be long and daunting at times, so here are some tips to help you get through this summer as well as years to come:

• Stop buying cheap tools. You might have to spend more money up front on proper tools, but they will last longer and save you money in the long run. You’ll also see a noticeable improvement in your work. Keep an eye out for high end tools at auctions or estate sales.
• Don’t heat dry your dishes. Your house is already warm and you’re likely spending money on cooling it down. After the dishwasher has finished running, open it up and let things air dry. This will put less stress on your energy bill and your dishwasher.
• Don’t worry about watering your lawn every day. It’s much better for it if you water deeply and periodically. Your lawn really only needs about 1 inch of water a week to be healthy.
• Don’t try to save water by putting bricks in your toilet – this can actually do damage to your toilet which is going to end up costing you more money. Instead, look into a high efficiency toilet that can save you up to $230/year. If you can’t afford a new toilet, consider using a half gallon milk jug filled with sand. These won’t break down or damage your toilet.
• Get on top of small issues before they turn into bigger ones. A quick fix can be cheap and easy, but if you ignore it because it doesn’t seem like a big deal now, it could end up being an expensive repair down the road. Many issues can be made more severe by the snow that constantly freezes and thaws during a Calgary winter. Water can get into small cracks which then expand when it freezes.
• Break big jobs into smaller ones. Things feel much more manageable when broken into steps. Instead of having one big item on your checklist, turn it into three or four smaller jobs that you can cross off. Once you get going, it’ll be easier to get stuff done in smaller chunks.

Home maintenance is not a fun chore, especially when you could be out enjoying the beautiful summer weather. However, if you use these tips to help work through your to-do list, you’ll save time, money and have fewer things to worry about later on. You might even be able to go into