5 Tips for Prepping Your Home for Summer

One of the four seasons on Earth is summer, and it comes after spring and before autumn. The nights are the shortest at this time of year, while the days are warm, scorching, and extremely long. Everything around you is urging you to get outside as the sun shines so brightly!

Everyone enjoys summer since it is the ideal season for vacation, relaxing by the ocean, and tanning. It’s a wonderful time to go outside and play sports, hang out with friends and family, and have picnics. Everyone is pleased with this time of year since you can go for a stroll even at night and do not need to wear warm clothing.

Fruit-bearing plants and trees, numerous colorful flowers in bloom, and a wonderful aroma permeating the air are all signs of early summer. Animals can breed on warm days with perfect weather! Because the days are so long and the nights are pleasant and brief, everyone has more time to go outside and enjoy the summertime.

The sun is most active in the summer, which means that everything in nature receives a lot of energy from the sun to sustain life, reproduction, and feeding. The warmth of the summertime produces ideal circumstances for both plant and animal life. Be prepared for thunderstorms as well because they are a significant summertime occurrence.

It aids in the survival of nature through this hot season, improves crop growth, and subsequently results in a harvest! You are aware that the optimum time to witness a rainbow is in the summer. Sun and water “cooperate” to generate this astonishing and incredibly beautiful phenomenon.

If you aren’t ready for the summer’s rising temperatures, your home may become intolerably hot. The summer months are the most enjoyable of the year in various areas of the nation since they are warm, breezy, and welcoming. It may be the worst in other areas when the air is polluted and the temperatures are dangerously high. However, everyone can make their houses cozy and safe for the summer with a little planning.

Here are five things you can do to get your house ready for the summer.

1.      Inspect your roof: 

Your roof’s condition is very important, which is why periodic roof inspections are highly advised. It can take a while before the damage shows up on your radar. This implies that it could already be too late to make repairs by the time the damage is clearly obvious. Always better to be proactive than being reactive when it comes to roofing.

Your roof and home’s exterior may disclose small issues that have developed during the winter, which you may get fixed before they worsen. Incorrectly positioned, broken, or missing shingles can all allow water to leak in. Additionally, check for rust on the flashing (those metal pieces where the shingles meet other structures, like your chimney), and make sure the caulk around pipes and skylights is intact. Check the chimney and the brick or stone joints for any pieces that have fallen out or that have plants growing inside of them. Both might be symptoms of a water problem.

2.      Take Care of Cooling Equipment

If you have central air conditioning, the first thing you should do is routinely change the filter. An unclean filter increases the amount of dust, dust mites, and other pollutants that enter the home and puts a greater strain on the system, increasing the chance that it may malfunction on the hottest day of the year. Along with changing the filter more regularly when there is a lot of pollen and mold in the air, it should be done at least once every 90 days.

You should also think about replacing your normal 1-inch-thick filter with an advanced filter, commonly known as a whole-house air filtration system. Trane CleanEffects, for instance, claims that its patented technology, which retains 99.98 percent of airborne particles, makes it 100 times more effective than a normal reusable filter.

Additionally, it’s crucial to get your central AC system serviced by a professional at least once a year. A skilled expert can perform a variety of maintenance duties that are outside the scope of the typical homeowner’s understanding, such as monitoring the refrigerant levels and ensuring the coil has adequate charge. The annual tune-up will probably cost between $100 and $300, but it will preserve the equipment’s optimal efficiency and performance while also adding many years or more to its lifespan.

Do your windows have air conditioning? They also have filters. Throughout the cooling season, remove them and wash them with soapy water a few times.

3.      Keep Humidity and Air Pollutants in Check

Mold, dust mites, and other allergens spread throughout your home as the quantity of moisture in the air rises. The United States Environmental Protection Agency advises maintaining the humidity in your house below 60%, ideally around 30% and 50%.

A standalone dehumidifier can aid in reducing the amount of moisture in a particular space, such as a moist basement. A whole-house dehumidifier, which may be integrated into an existing forced-air heating and cooling system or installed independently, is something to take into consideration if you live in an area that experiences high levels of humidity or has allergy sufferers in your home.

People who live in drier areas might need to use a humidifier, either for the entire house or for each individual room, to provide a bit extra moisture to the air. That will lessen the likelihood of damaged hardwood floors and furnishings, as well as dry eyes and scratchy throats.

4.      Bug-proof your home

Carpenter ants and termites are active throughout the summer. Another reason to maintain your gutters in good condition is that both species enjoy damp soil. Keep mulch, firewood, and dense shrubbery away from the base of your home since the bugs are attracted to decaying wood as well.

Look for mounds of sawdust along baseboards—a telltale indicator of carpenter ants—if you suspect that the pests have already made it inside. Termites like to expel their wings near walls, windowsills, and other accessible places.

Last but not least are ticks and mosquitoes. The key in both situations is getting rid of the insects’ preferred nesting habitats. Watch out for empty gardening pots, birdbaths, and other areas with standing water since mosquitoes need it. Mow the lawn frequently, especially in the shaded areas of the yard, as ticks love tall grass. Then slow down and take in a relaxing summer day knowing everything is okay at home.

5.      Take a look at your gutters

A lovely summer downpour has a special calming effect. That is, provided that you are not concerned about moisture getting inside your home. The majority of homeowners don’t normally look forward to spending their afternoons cleaning their gutters, but doing so is essential to avoid serious damage to your property.

Since many things, like leaves, debris, bird nests, and more, can block your gutters and drains in the summer, it is crucial to clean your gutters frequently. Your gutters may be blocked if you notice insects crawling around in them. Mice and squirrels build their nests in blocked gutters using the debris there.

Check the outside of your house to ensure that your gutters are clear and pointing away from your foundation. Winter can be harsh on gutters, so make the last inspection. Remove any leaves or other debris from the gutters. When it rains again, go outside and inspect your gutters and downspouts for cracks or leaks. Never allow water to build near your house’s foundation since this might lead to costly leakage problems.

Conclusion

Summer has finally come! Before you put on your sunscreen and step outside, make sure your home is ready for the summer heat. These are things you should be doing in preparation for warmer weather. Making sure your house is properly prepared for summer will help you cool your space more efficiently—and stay ahead of seasonal dust and allergens. The above five home preparation tips can keep your home cool without driving up your energy cost.