Believe it or not, summer is almost over. School is getting started, football season kicks off soon, and Halloween stuff is making its way into stores. That means it’s time to start checking your to-do list and getting some of those summer projects knocked out before the weather turns on you.
Sure, you’ve still got five or six weeks left of summer, but those will be gone before you know it, leaving you with a long list and cold, blustery days. Not sure what to tackle first? The Olathe heating and cooling pros at Davenport Service Company have organized a list of the best late-summer home improvement projects for the inside and outside of your home!
Power Wash Your Home’s Exterior. A power washer is cheap to rent, easy to use, and actually kinda fun! This is a perfect way to perk up the outside of your home, especially if your siding is still in good shape but just needs a little pick-me-up.
Wash and Stain Your Deck. While you’ve got that power washer rented, you can spruce up your deck with a quick wash and some stain. Just blast the surface with the power washer, strip whatever needs it, and apply a new coat of stain and sealant to get your deck looking its best and protect it from winter weather.
Power Wash the Drive and Walkways. But wait! Don’t take that rented power washer back to the store just yet! Your driveway may have been stained by your cars, by the kids’ sidewalk chalk, or by the sap from that nice shade tree. A quick power wash can make your driveway and walkways look brand new!
Paint the House. Okay, this one’s a slightly bigger job, but it can be an important one, especially if your house needs something more than a quick wash. Summer is the perfect time to paint, because warm weather helps the paint cure properly so that it lasts longer and provides better protection. Painting inside is a perfect activity for a warm summer day when the weather is a little too hot to make working outside quite as pleasant.
Replace Your Furnace. Sure, it’s hot outside right now, but winter will be here before you know it. Before that happens, you may want to have a new furnace in place that’ll keep you warm through the cold winter nights. After all, the average lifespan of a home furnace is around 16 years. Time for a new one? Fortunately, Davenport Service Company has a "Free Furnace Special" going on right now! For a limited time, if you buy a new YORK air conditioner, you can get a FREE furnace while you’re at it!
Drain Your Water Heater. It’s easy to do, it won’t take too long, and it can do a lot for your home plumbing system. Draining your water heater on the regular helps to keep it clear of sediment, which means you’ll have more hot water and a water heater that lasts longer and works more efficiently. And that saves you money on your utility bill!
Replace the Garage Door. Not only will a new garage door help improve your home’s curb appeal, it may also provide better protection against the elements, which is nice in the summer and really nice once cold weather sets in.
Plant a Fall Vegetable Garden. If you were hoping to harvest a crop of carrots, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, or herbs this fall, now’s the time to get them in the ground. It pays to plan ahead, and late summer is the perfect time to plant plenty of vegetables and herbs that you can enjoy at the dinner table this autumn.
Level the Driveway. You might need some help from the professionals for this one. You can call a mudjacking or polyjacking outfit to help raise the driveway up and prevent it from sinking or cracking. What if it’s already sinking and cracking? Well, all the more reason to get it taken care of before it gets any worse!
Build a Backyard Fire Pit. Whether you’re hosting a late summer cookout or simply sitting around the fire on a crisp autumn night, backyard firepits are the perfect centerpiece for get-togethers with family and friends. Consult your HOA before you start building, as some of them have regulations about where (and if) you can have a fire pit.
Get a Bug and Termite Inspection. Even if you haven’t seen any creepy crawlies, it’s a good idea to get routine inspections to make sure that your home is termite and pest free. An infestation of termites is definitely the kind of thing you want to catch earlier rather than later.
Winterize Your Windows. Most homes lose a lot of cool air—and let in a lot cold—through drafty windows. Fortunately, you can put a stop to that with the caulk gun, some paint, and maybe a little weather stripping.
Replace Your Windows. If the caulk and weather stripping won’t quite do the trick, it may be time to consider replacing those drafty windows instead. Modern windows can improve the look of your home and help keep your heating and cooling bill low all year round.
Get an HVAC Inspection. A full-service HVAC inspection ensures that your furnace and air conditioner are both working optimally to keep you cool through the end of summer and warm when the weather turns chilly later in autumn. An HVAC inspection also addresses problems before they become serious. In addition to performing a basic checkup, the heating and cooling professionals at Davenport Service Company in Olathe will perform extra safety and efficiency checks so your whole system runs at peak performance.
Summer is fading fast, so make the most of your weekends now so you’ll be snug as a bug in a rug come autumn. If you need a hand, just call the Olathe heating and cooling pros at Davenport Service Company today at 913-441-2222!
