August maintenance for a mixed-dry climate
Dry air, cold nights and hot days: wide temperature swings, wildfire smoke and freezes.
6 tasks this month. The median typical first freeze across the region’s counties is Oct 24 and the last is Apr 20; your county can differ by weeks.
August6 tasks
- This monthPress the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.
An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.
How
Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.
- This monthLook under every sink and around toilets and the water heater for drips.
Slow leaks rot cabinets and subfloors long before they show. Catching one early is a washer, not a floor.
How
Use a flashlight: feel supply lines and the shutoff valves, look for stains, warped cabinet floors or a toilet that rocks.
- WatchVacuum the refrigerator condenser coils.
Dusty coils make the compressor run longer and hotter, especially in summer.
How
Unplug the fridge, remove the bottom grille (or pull it out to reach rear coils) and vacuum with a brush attachment.
- WatchSoak faucet aerators and showerheads in vinegar to clear scale.
Hard water leaves scale that restricts flow.
How
Unscrew aerators, or tie a bag of vinegar around the showerhead overnight, then rinse.
- WatchSeal cracks in the driveway, walkways and steps before the freeze-thaw season.
Water in a crack freezes and widens it every winter.
How
Clean the crack and fill it with a concrete crack sealant on a dry day above 50°F.
- WatchReseal sun-dried wood decks and fences.
Intense sun dries and checks unsealed wood, which then splits and rots.
How
Sprinkle water on the boards; if it soaks in quickly, clean and apply a penetrating sealer.