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The home, like all of us, goes through wear and tear over time. Things that might have worked just fine last year might not be quite as reliable this year. As such, it’s the responsibility of every homeowner to make sure that they’re doing what they can to keep it in good health. This is especially important when the weather is about to drastically change. While the summer might not seem as immediately threatening as the cold, wind, and snow of winter, it can still be very uncomfortable if your home isn’t equipped to deal with it. Here, we’re going to look at the checks you should do before summer rolls in every year.
Care for your AC
You’re going to be relying on your air conditioner a lot more as the temperature goes up and up. You want to make sure that, first of all, your AC is working as it should be and, second of all, it’s not going to cost you an exorbitant amount to keep it on. Keep an eye out for any of the signs that you might need AC repairs. If your AC fixtures are getting old, you might want to consider looking at replacements, as well, or at the very least, what repairs and maintenance you can do to keep it as energy-efficient as possible.
Maintain your airflow
Your AC is going to be a key source of cool air for the home. However, as the temperature rises and humidity goes up with it, it’s important to make sure that air is able to flow well throughout the home. Take a look at the ventilation in the home to make sure that they are clear and clean, replace any filters that might need it, and test the humidity of the home. High humidity can lead to home health issues, such as a higher chance of mold spreading. Getting a dehumidifier can help you keep the air crisp, light, and not as muggy. Not only is this good for your health, but it can make it a lot easier to sleep at night, too.
Check your windows
You might want to crack a window once in a while to make sure that the air is flowing through the home, bringing in fresh air and letting out all that dusty, stale air, you want to make sure that your windows are able to provide the strong, reliable barrier that your home needs. When the days are particularly hot, keeping your windows closed, especially on the side of the home facing the sun at the moment, is often recommended, as it can stop the heat from getting inside the home. Good insulation is just as important for keeping the heat out of the home in the summer as it is for keeping the heat out during the winter and, as such, you should consider replacing your windows if they’re starting to lag in energy efficiency.
Look out for pests
As the weather starts to get hotter, more and more critters in the local environment are going to be waking up, and many of them are going to look at your home as a potential place to shelter from the heat, evade predators, and raise their young. Pest prevention is, in large part, about knowing which pests are most common in your area, and doing what you can to prevent their entry into the home. Of course, if you see evidence of pests already in the home, such as wood shavings lying around, droppings, or unexplained noises, then you might want to call a pest control team to get them out of the home once and for all.
Get ready for the storm
While the summer might, in general, be the time that clouds get out of the way and let us enjoy a little light, that doesn’t mean they don’t come back now and then. In particular, towards the latter half of the summer, storms and hurricanes can start to become a lot more common. Make sure that you keep an eye out for storm warnings and do what you can to prepare your home for them. Most importantly, you need to make sure that you know how to check your home for damage after a storm and invest in storm insurance if you’re likely to get hit by them.
Check your roof
With the likelihood of showers and the higher chance of storms, the part of the home that needs the most attention is easily your roof. Take the time to inspect the roof, and see if there are any cracked, damaged, or missing tiles. Calling a roof repair team to make the necessary fixes can prevent water from making its way through the top of the home. A solid, complete roof is vital for stopping heat from getting inside, as well. Of course, if you start to see the signs of a roof that is past its best days, you might want to consider a replacement before major issues start to appear and its energy efficiency drops right down.
Clean your gutters
While you’re up checking the roof, it’s a good idea to look at your gutters, while you’re at it. While fall might be the season where the gutters really start to suffer from the sheer amount of dead leaves that get picked up by the wind, the summer can be a busy season for them, as well. With everything growing, as well as birds carrying more twigs and branches around, more organic matter can get dropped into the gutter by wildlife and by the wind. This can lead to blockages when it rains which, in turn, can cause the water to start to find a way inside the home, leading to leaks, dampness, and mold. Cleaning your gutters every season needs to become a routine part of home ownership to prevent this.
Weatherproof what you can
With the above-mentioned storm risk in mind, it’s vital to make sure that you’re ready for those summer showers. Just because the temperature might be higher doesn’t mean that you’re not going to get those heavy rainfalls. As such, taking the time to weatherproof your home is vital. Sealing the cracks and gaps in your doors, windows, and walls should come first and foremost. You want to make sure that water can’t slip into any of the weaknesses in the home’s boundary. Sealing up those gaps is going to be just as important for keeping out the aforementioned pests, as well. Of course, weatherproofing is wise any time of the year, but don’t ignore any cracks just because it’s the summer.
Get your garage ready
If you have a car, and you also have a garage, then you had better get ready to make much more use of it. It’s time for the garage spring clean, as having your car out in the direct sunlight can have a bad effect on it, including fading the fabrics on the interiors. Aside from making sure that your garage is clean and free of clutter, with space to host your car, you should take the time to oil your garage door opener and chain, as well as any hinges it might have. You’re likely to be using it more often, you don’t want it sticking or, even worse, breaking when you try to use it.
Get the pressure washer out
You’re a lot more likely to be spending time outdoors now that the sun is out. However, over the past year, the reliability and safety of the surfaces of your home’s exterior might have taken a serious dip. Rain, organic matter, and general dirt can cause surfaces like tiles and paving slabs to become slippery, which can make them a fall risk. As such, you should take the time to use a pressure washer to remove that grime from the affected surface and restore it to its usual consistency. Of course, it’s also going to help improve the aesthetic to remove a year’s worth of dirt, making it a lot easier to spend time out there in comfort.
Check your wooden fixtures
It’s the perfect time to cast a closer eye over the wooden fixtures on the exterior of the home. This includes your fences, decking, trellises, pergolas, or any other wooden you have on the outside. Wood can lose its protective coating over time, which can leave it susceptible to issues like rot. You should check for and replace any rotted sections of wood, or else it can continue to spread through the garden. Otherwise, you might want to strip any existing coat that it has so that you can reapply a fresh one to protect it for longer. You can even paint it in between coats if the aesthetic has started to dull over the past year.
Keep an eye out for changes to your home as the weather changes. The sooner you get on top of it, the less likely that any issue is to cost you serious money.
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