Is Your Home Fit for Summer?
May 27th, 2008 categories: Repairs, Spouse Stuff
With summer already here, have you done the prep work necessary for the upcoming heat and humidity? If you’re like me, probably not yet, but, it’s certainly on the “to do” list. Preparing your home for the warmer temperatures is not only practical, but can save you a few dollars along the way.
- Take a look at your cooling system. Make sure your air filters are changed. While its recommended that this be done monthly, if you haven’t done so, do it now.
- Test your air conditioner. Before temperatures get too hot, make sure your unit is working properly. Test the system by turning it down to activate the air conditioner. If it doesn’t come on, check for tripped circuit breakers first. If you can’t identify the problem, call an air conditioning repairman. While no one likes repair bills, catching the problem early is certainly better than facing the same problem in the middle of a heat wave.
This is also a good time to check insulation and seals. Is your attic insulation still in good shape or has it compacted and is not quite as robust as it once was. Take the time to see if you might need to use some additional insulation. Also, seals around windows and doors also need to be checked for inegrity. How many of us have felt that cold air seeping in through a door or window during a frigid winter night? Well, that seepage doesn’t stop with warmer temperatures. So, reseal where needed.
On the outside of the home, if you haven’t already, it’s a good time to get your deck into shape. Sweep and remove all the debris. Next, power wash, or if you prefer, hand scrub the deck to remove stains & mildew. After washing, seal the deck using a water based sealant, preferably a waterproofing sealant, with UV protection against the sun.
Preparing a home for warmer temperatures makes the heat of the summer season a bit easier to handle. Taking a few preventative steps to ensure the air conditioning “moving parts” are ready to go will give you peace of mind as those tempertatures begin to climb with the advance of summer. Doing a little clean up to the outside of the house yields similar dividends. So, take the time during the last few days of May to prepare for the long hot summer - it’ll pay off in more ways than one.
