If you want your home to stay in good condition throughout the summer months, there are a few things you might want to add to your property-maintenance 'to-do' list.

Check the air conditioning unit

Without a functional air-conditioning unit, the summer heat can quickly become unbearable; as such, if you want to make sure that your home stays pleasantly cool throughout the hottest months of the year, it's important to look after your air conditioning system.

The filters inside the unit should be changed periodically to prevent a buildup of dust particles which could affect the unit's functionality and cause premature system failure. It's worth noting that if, like most people, you tend to switch your air conditioning on more often in the summertime, you will probably need to increase the frequency of your filter changes during this period.

It's also a good idea to have the unit examined by a company that specialises in air conditioning services; ideally, this should be done at the start of this season to ensure that the system is in good working order before a heatwave arrives. During their inspection, the HVAC technician will usually top up the refrigerant fluid, remove grime from the evaporator and condenser coils, and examine the unit's electrical wiring.

Lastly, if you have a split-system air conditioning unit, which usually comes with an outdoor compressor and condenser unit, don't forget to check for, and if necessary, trim back any overgrown shrubbery or grass nearby. Adequate air circulation is needed for this unit to perform properly; if there are plants around it which are obstructing its air flow, its efficiency will be affected.

Inspect your lawn irrigation system

If your outdoor irrigation system breaks down, the searing heat of the summer sun could destroy your lawn, causing browning of the grass and bare patches which will take a lot of time and money to repair. As such, it's crucial to make sure that this system is performing as it should.

Because of their position, sprinkler heads can sometimes become obstructed by soil particles. In cases where the blockage is relatively small, the amount of water flowing from the heads may be reduced. However, if the blockage is larger, it could cause the component to seize up entirely, to the point where it no longer pops up from the ground.

To check if there's a problem with your system, place several empty food tins around the lawn and switch on the sprinklers; if they are functioning properly (i.e. distributing water evenly across the lawn), all of the tins should end up being filled with equal amounts of water. Should you notice an empty tin after performing this test, spend some time inspecting the sprinkler heads in that section of the lawn. Unscrew and dismantle each one; if you discover a blockage, simply run the affected component under a hose; the combination of water and pressure should remove any soil present.