Design Recipes: Top 10 Tips for Outdoor Maintenance

These tips can help you save money on energy consumption and maybe even prevent future disasters.
Design Recipes: Top 10 Tips for Outdoor Maintenance
Roof maintenance is a critical part of ensuring your home is free of leaks and potential damage.Crystal Craig/Dreamstime/TNS
Tribune News Service
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By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service

Check your front door. Doors leading to the outside can be a key source of energy loss.

Maintain your roof. Roof maintenance is a critical part of ensuring your home is free of leaks and potential damage. Biannual or annual check-ups can go a long way towards keeping your home in good condition.

Tree Maintenance. Dead trees can be a recipe for disaster, especially during a heavy storm. Removing dead trees and branches is a great way to maintain your home.

Pruning and mulching can help preserve the investment you have made to beautify your home. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Pruning and mulching can help preserve the investment you have made to beautify your home. Dreamstime/TNS

Monitor your HVAC system. A recommendation is a twice-a-year checkup as you change your system between heating and air conditioning.

Refill driveways. Your driveway undergoes continuous heavy-duty usage. Repaving or adding fresh gravel can help to prevent potential accidents or damage.

Evaluate lighting. Pathways and entries should be well lit.

Check water connections. From your garden hose to outdoor kitchen faucets, ensure connections are tight and secure.

Power Wash. Power washing decks and the exterior of your home can help to make it feel renewed and refreshed.

Power washing decks and the exterior of your home can help to make it feel renewed and refreshed. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Power washing decks and the exterior of your home can help to make it feel renewed and refreshed. Dreamstime/TNS

Maintain landscaping. From pruning to mulching, proper maintenance can help to preserve the investment you have made to beautify your home.

Do an energy assessment. Making sure seals are tight around windows and doors as well as proper insulation of your home, can help save you money on heating and cooling your home.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. Copyright 2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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