Summer in Virginia isn’t just about cookouts and long days—it’s also the season when homes start showing the wear and tear of the heat, humidity, and heavy use from the previous winter season. At Handy Home Helpers, we’ve been helping homeowners in the Chesterfield, Richmond and surrounding areas with all sorts of home repairs for years, and summer always brings a familiar wave of service calls. Some issues are serious and need a pro to fix them right the first time, but others can be tackled by homeowners with a bit of DIY know-how.
What we’ve learned over the years is that many people are eager to understand their homes better and want to take care of things themselves when possible. That’s why we wanted to share this list—not just to highlight what we see most during the summer months, but to give you real advice based on what we’ve dealt with in the field. Here are five common repair issues we see again and again—and how you can take care of them, or when to call in the pros.
1. AC Drain Line Backups
Few things create more panic than a puddle near your ceiling in the middle of July. One of the most frequent causes? A clogged AC condensate line. These lines remove moisture from your air conditioning system, and over time, algae and grime can build up inside and block them—especially with the high humidity we get here in Virginia.
DIY Fix:
- Shut off your HVAC system.
- Locate the drain line (usually a white PVC pipe near your outdoor unit).
- Use a small plumbing snake to clear or a shop vac to suction out any clog.
- Flush the line with an industry standard cleaner or a cup of distilled white vinegar monthly to prevent buildup.
Home Depot has an industry standard AC Drain line cleaner here.
Last summer, we had a call from a homeowner just off Route 10 who noticed water leaking from the ceiling in their laundry room. They thought it was a roof issue, but it turned out the AC drain line was completely clogged. It was a simple fix—but left alone, it could’ve caused thousands in drywall and water damage repairs.
2. Sagging or Sticking Doors
When the summer humidity hits, wood expands. That means doors that worked just fine in spring might now stick, rub, or not latch properly. It’s not unusual to get several calls a week about this throughout July and August.
DIY Fix:
- Check and tighten all hinge screws (especially the top ones).
- Replace any stripped screws with 3-inch wood screws to secure the frame better.
- If the door still sticks, sand the edge that sticks to the jam slightly with a 220 grit sanding sponge.
- If it STILL persists, you can use a planer to carefully shave off small amounts of wood until the door shuts properly. But at this point, a skilled tech would be recommended
Lowe’s offers a good guide on door adjustments here.
We recently serviced three homes, all within 5 miles of each other on the same day. And all of them had swollen doors that wouldn’t close properly. In each case, a quick screw swap and a little planing did the trick (no more slamming the door shut with a shoulder!).
3. Warped or Cracked Deck Boards
Summer sun is brutal on decks. We often get called in to replace warped or cracked boards, which can be dangerous if left unchecked. Most of the time, homeowners don’t notice the issue until someone stubs a toe or trips over a raised edge.
DIY Fix:
- If the warping is minimum, you can use 3 inch long (minimum) exterior wood screws to reinforce the warped boards to the structural joists they are mounted on, forcing them straight. Otherwise:
- Use a pry bar to remove damaged boards.
- Cut to length and replace the removed boards with pressure-treated lumber or composite decking, matched to existing width and thickness dimensions. Coated screws are recommended as fasteners instead of nails
- If it is wood decking, sand entire deck and stain/re-seal the deck to protect the wood from further sun damage as needed.
Here’s a great guide on decking replacement from Family Handyman.
We helped a family in Colonial Heights get their deck safe again just days before a Fourth of July cookout. The boards had warped so badly that one guest could have easily tripped in the dark. We replaced five boards and resealed the deck in one visit.
4. GFCI Outlets That Won’t Reset
Summer means pool pumps, electric grills, outdoor fans, etc.—all plugged into outdoor circuits. With all that use, we often get calls about outdoor GFCI outlets that won’t reset or constantly trip.
DIY Fix:
- Unplug everything from the outlet.
- Press the “RESET” button firmly on the GFCI.
- If that doesn’t work, check your breaker panel.
- If the outlet is older than 10 years, consider replacing it. Sometimes the GFCI can just go bad. If uncomfortable with replacing an outlet, give us a call.
- If replacement doesn’t work, there is likely a short or current leak in the circuit. In which case, you should call a professional.
Here’s a simple outlet replacement guide from Bob Vila.
One or our customers used their shed outlet for the first time in years, only to find it o longer was working. Turned out the GFCI outlet on the same exterior circuit was nearly two decades old and just wasn’t functioning properly anymore. Once we swapped it with a new, weather-rated model, the problem was gone for good.
5. Cracked or Missing Caulk Around Windows and Doors
By mid-summer, we often find homeowners dealing with cracked or peeling caulk around their windows and exterior trim. The sun and heat break it down fast—especially on south-facing walls—leading to drafts, pests, poor energy conservation and water damage.
DIY Fix:
- Use a utility knife or scraper to remove the old caulk and any loose paint flaking (lots of people think it’s okay to skip this step….DON’T).
- Clean the area thoroughly and allow it to dry.
- Apply a new bead of paintable, exterior-grade caulk.
- If necessary, apply 1-2 coats of exterior grade paint matched to color and sheen
This Old House has a solid how-to on window caulking.
We often get calls from customers noticing small gaps that seem harmless but can turn into real problems fast. A quick caulking touch-up is one of the simplest ways to protect your home from moisture and bugs—without spending a lot of money.
Need Help With Summer Repairs in VA?
At Handy Home Helpers, we’ve been handling these exact issues for years—and while we’re happy to share our knowledge so you can try tackling them yourself, we’re also here when you need a hand. If you want it done right, done fast, and done by licensed professionals you can trust, give us a call or reach out through one of the forms on our website.
We proudly serve Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico and surrounding areas with expert handyman, electrical, plumbing, and remodeling services.
ANOTHER HANDY POST THAT WE HOPE WILL BE HELPFUL AROUND YOUR HOME!!!