June Homework

After last July’s floods, take precautions to ensure your home’s drainage system is working efficiently. If basement flooding has been a problem in the past, don’t wait to find a cure. Call a waterproofing professional for advice.

• Clean debris from window wells. To assist drainage, make sure there is a good layer of gravel on the bottom. Install plastic covers over the wells and you won’t have to do this job again!
• Wash winter grime away. Have windows cleaned inside and out. Have the exterior power washed to make vinyl sparkle. Power wash decks and patios.
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs and evergreens, remove dead heads from roses, flowering perennials and annuals such as geraniums. Keep pots and planters blooming by pinching back the spent blooms to encourage growth. Clip herbs and place clippings in a glass of water to keep them fresh for days. Mulch around tomato plants. Give plants, roses and the lawn a dose of fertilizer this month.
• Have your central air conditioning system or room air conditioner checked and cleaned by a professional to keep it humming.
• Keep your driveway neat and tidy with a fresh coat of sealant. Not only will it protect your driveway, a well-maintained driveway adds a finishing touch to your home’s exterior.
• Make a list of outdoor projects and call this month for quotes on patios, deck repairs and landscaping. Book contractors this month to ensure your project is completed before the summer ends.
• Eavestroughs should be cleared of debris and in good repair to handle spring rains. Check that downspouts are pointed away from your home’s foundation.
• Before digging in this month, make sure your garden tools are up to the task. Check the owner’s manual for maintenance instructions for power tools. Oil and gas should be replaced at the start of the season. Clean or replace the air filters, clean or replace spark plugs, have the blades sharpened and tighten loose nuts, bolts and belts.

Courtesy: Homeservice Club