Simple home maintenance tasks for summer

Sure, it’s well past spring cleaning time, but there could be some household chores you’ve been putting off. Here’s what experts in home repair, pest management and landscaping have to say about some home maintenance and repair items you may have forgotten this summer.

Change your air conditioner filter.

A dirty or clogged air conditioner filter can hinder the performance of the air conditioning unit. According to the Department of Energy, a clogged air filter can cause you to use 5 to 15% more energy than you’d consume if your filter were clean. It can also mean dirty air inside the home and more frequent dusting.

Made of spun fiberglass and cardboard, air filters trap and contain airborne contaminants like pollen, mold spores, pet hair and more. If you’re noticing dust or debris on your vents, it could be a sign that you need to swap out your air filter.

How often you need to change your filter depends on a number of variables, including air quality, daily usage and type of filter used.

Pull any weeds or remove any dead plantings.

Dead plantings and untrimmed hedges are not only unsightly, they’re also a fire hazard.

With wildfire season already upon us, it’s vital that homeowners tend to their landscape to protect themselves — and their neighbors.

While there’s no such thing as “fireproof ” plants, there are plants that are less prone to catching fire. CalFire suggests selecting highmoisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content. Fireresistant shrubs include hedging roses, currant, sumac, and bush honeysuckles. Hardwood trees like maple, cherry and poplar are less flammable than firs, pines and conifers.

Your local nursery and gardening experts can help you select the best plantings for your area.

For patios and bare spaces, rocks, mulch, flower beds and gardens can provide ground cover and effective firebreaks.

Waterproof your deck.

Hosting a barbecue is a great way to spend a summer day relaxing with friends or family. Just make sure your deck is up to the task.

There’s an easy way to test if your deck needs to be waterproofed: Pour water on it. If the water beads, your deck is in fine shape. If the water absorbs, however, it means it’s time to apply a sealant.

Clean ceiling fan blades.

Dust slowly builds on ceiling fan blades over time. And every time you use that fan, dust gets spread across the room.

Think of the fan over your dining room table. When was the last time it had a dusting? You don’t want it spreading particulates over your finely cooked dinner.

Use a microfiber towel or wet paper towels to cleanse each blade.

Shutterstock Cleaning air vents and replacing your air filter are just two simple home maintenance tasks you can take on this summer.