Summertime, and the living’s easy. Just kidding! A homeowner’s work is never done. Seriously, though, a small amount of effort on these tasks can save you a lot of pain down the road. Here’s dpaul’s list of things to do this summer to keep your home ship shape.

Indoor air quality check. If you don’t already have one, now is a good time to source a portable air purifier, such as a Dyson, Molekule, or Blueair. Don’t wait until fire season, as they sell out very quickly. We keep a Blueair running in our bedroom 24/7, and my allergies have been greatly reduced. If you have central air, it’s also a good time to replace your air filters. I use MERV-13 rated filters, which are hospital grade and remove a high amount of particulate matter from the air.

Check for air leaks. Re-caulk seals on doors and windows. Not only will this also keep poor air quality out, it can also help increase your home’s energy efficiency if and when you use air conditioning and heating.

Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct. More than 25% of house fires are caused by an accumulation of lint in dryer vents. Some smart appliances alert you when lint has built up and blocked the vent, but it’s always good to be proactive.

Clean drapes and dust blinds and shutters. You’d be astonished how much dust has accumulated on them.

Inspect your house exterior for loose or rotted siding. Power wash siding or brick to get rid of any dust, dirt, tree sap, city grime, etc., that leave your home looking less than its best. Think of it as giving your house a spa day.

Repair and repaint any chipped, cracking or faded exterior paint. After power washing, there’s a good chance you’ll need to do a little touching up. Besides improving your home’s curb appeal, it will also help protect it from the elements.

Have a roofer check your roof. Leaks often occur when the sealant around flashing, the sealant around your chimneys, skylights, vents, etc., becomes compromised, especially after it’s been dry for a period. Don’t wait until the rains start again. if you develop a leak then, there’s a good chance a lot of other people will have, too, and the roofers will be busy.

Have a plumber check the lines going into the sewer. San Francisco and Sacramento are full of old buildings, and that means old plumbing full of years of … let’s just say buildup. Having the lines cleaned out with a hydro jet is a moderately inexpensive maintenance that will save you in the long run. We just did this on our 63-year-old Sacramento house (by necessity), and found that the cast iron pipes were thinning from years of wear. Our plumber was able to create a new epoxy lining in the pipes trenchlessly – check out the video, a cool procedure. It was definitely not cheap, but since we are on a slab foundation, it would have been much more expensive if we had ignored it and the pipes burst. Now, we can rest easy that the pipes should last another 50 years. In San Francisco, many homes have their plumbing exposed, which makes it easier to maintain.