Being a homeowner has a lot of perks and a lot of responsibility. Owning a home means you’re the person in charge of taking care of it and figuring out how to fix any repairs that occur. You’ll need to ensure that you maintain both the interior and exterior of your home so it looks great and all aspects function properly.
The same concept goes for owning a beach home in Florida. The maintenance tasks are similar to a normal Florida home, with a few notable additions that apply to owning a home on the coastline.
This guide will help you learn how to keep your Florida beach house in excellent condition and what to do when something in your home needs maintenance.
How Do You Maintain a Beach House?
Many people dream about living on the beach. Having a view of the ocean and being steps away from the sand is incredible. While owning a home on the beach is a luxury, you’ll need to maintain the property to keep all aspects of your Florida beach house pristine.
Beach homes will need attention on typical home maintenance areas plus features that may need maintenance because of your home’s proximity to the water. It’s important to know some maintenance tips for your beach home that will protect all aspects of your house.
Florida Beach Home Maintenance Checklist
Take the best care of your coastal Florida home and complete this beach house maintenance checklist:
1. Check the Smoke Detectors
Electronic safety devices, like smoke detectors, must be inspected to ensure they are still working properly. Batteries in your smoke detector can die, or other components of the device can stop working over time. Testing the smoke detectors and changing out batteries can help keep your beach home safe. Test your smoke detectors about once a month and change out the batteries at least once a year. You should also replace the entire system every 10 years. It’s helpful to reference your smoke detectors manual if you have any issues with the devices.
2. Check the Fire Extinguishers
Ensuring that your home is safe includes inspecting the fire extinguisher in your beach house. Knowing that your fire extinguisher is operating properly will give you the reassurance you need in the case of an emergency.
Read your fire extinguishers manual to become familiar with its functions. The manual may inform you of specific maintenance requirements that can help extend the life span of your fire extinguisher.
Next, ensure your fire extinguisher is somewhere in your home that you have easy access to. This includes the kitchen, garage, near fireplaces or rooms that contain components like the HVAC system, furnace and more.
Check the fire extinguisher’s inspection tag and gauge the pressure. The inspection tag will be around the neck of the extinguisher, and the gauge needle should be pointing toward the green zone.
Finally, ensure that the hose and pin of the fire extinguisher are in place, inspect for physical damage and update your inspection tag with the date you completed the inspection.
3. Check the HVAC Unit and Monitor Humidity Levels
You must check your HVAC system in your Florida beach home for two reasons — you want your system to heat or cool your home when you need it, and you want to inspect the humidity levels in your home. Living near the coast can bring high humidity levels, and you want to check that high humidity levels do not impact your beach home’s HVAC system. You can check your beach home’s humidity levels with a hygrometer or using DIY methods.
4. Check for Leaks in the Home
Inspect your home for leaks inside and outside of your beach house. You should check places like your roof, doors, windows, garden hoses, appliances and other locations that could allow water to enter the inside of your home. Look out for signs of mold and mildew around these locations and ensure you’re inspecting these areas safely.
5. Inspect and Clean Your Home’s Exterior
The outside of your home is exposed to numerous elements, especially being by the ocean. Dirt and grime can build up on parts of your home’s exterior over time, which can impact the appearance and curb appeal of your beach house. Inspect the outside of your home and clean it with a power washer to remove any tough build-up of dirt and other debris.
6. Make Sure Your Garage Door Works
Your home’s garage door is a significant part of your home’s exterior. It contributes to your home’s curb appeal and is likely a major entryway for you and your family. Inspecting your garage door can help improve its functionality and ensure it lasts a long time. In Florida, garage doors can sustain damage from high winds and storms, especially on the shore.
The best way to keep your garage door running smoothly and looking great is to schedule periodic maintenance. You can easily schedule garage door maintenance or annual tune-ups with your local overhead door company. You can also clean your garage door to keep it looking its best and to prevent rust. Maintaining your beach home’s garage door can help improve your home’s safety and help you avoid costly emergency repairs.
7. Clean the Pool
If your Florida beach home has a pool, you should include the pool on your home’s maintenance list. Ensure that the pool is clean by cleaning out debris, checking the chemical levels and replacing or cleaning the filter. You can also make sure that your pool cover is free of tears and that it secures properly over your pool.
8. Clean Up Your Yard
Keeping up with landscaping and other parts of your yard can improve its visual appearance and prevent an abundance of pests and invasive plants. Perform regular yard maintenance like mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming bushes and watering plants. Also, remember to prune any dead leaves off of palm trees surrounding your beach house.
9. Check Your Deck for Saltwater Damage
If your beach house has a deck over the water, inspect it for any signs of saltwater damage. The repeated exposure to saltwater can impact the integrity of the wood and metal components on the deck, so look for any rust or corrosion and tend to these areas accordingly.
10. Clean Windows to Avoid Corrosion
The salt in the air from being next to the ocean can corrode the framing on your home’s windows. Cleaning your windows regularly can help prevent any damage or corrosion.
Contact The Doorman to Fix Any Garage Door Issues
Maintenance on your beach home in Florida is essential to the appearance and functionality of your home. If you’re experiencing any issues with your garage door or want to prevent them before they happen, contact the experts at The Doorman to schedule service. We’re ready to provide lasting solutions for your Florida beach home’s garage door.
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