Getting your home ready for the warm summer months is going to require much more than a thorough spring cleaning. If you want your family to remain comfortable as the temperatures start to climb, then you will need to think about some home maintenance projects. These few tips and tricks will help you and your family get your home ready for the first heat wave of the year.
Seal up Your Home
Sealing up old cracks and pinholes is going to reduce your energy bills and keep unwanted pests out of your home. As long as the opening is only a few centimeters wide, you should be able to seal it with all-purpose caulking. Those types of openings are usually found around doors, windows, vents, pipes, and electrical lines.
Take a Look at the Outdoor Plumbing
It is an unfortunate fact that the cold winter months can take a major toll on outdoor plumbing components. Before you turn on your sprinklers and hoses, you must first inspect the entire system for any signs of damage. A leaking spigot or cracked sprinkler could waste hundreds of gallons of water a month.
Inspect the Roof and Exterior Walls
If summer storms are a regular occurrence in your city, then you need to inspect every inch of your roof and exterior walls. During a major storm, a single leak or opening might result in thousands of dollars in water damage. Luckily, most minor roof leaks can easily be taken care of with roof sealant or a new shingle. For damaged siding, you might need to caulk the area or repaint.
Change the Direction of Your Ceiling Fans
Many homeowners don’t realize that ceiling fans should be reversed every five or six months. When the weather is warm outside, you want all of your ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise at a higher rate of speed. That will circulate the cool air and keep your home at a consistent temperature.
Schedule an AC Service Call
Well before the first heat wave of the year, you need to make sure that your air conditioner is working flawlessly. You should be able to change out the filters and clean the condenser on your own, but you will need an HVAC contractor for some of the other maintenance tasks. An HVAC contractor can also carry out AC repair if any major components are damaged.
When it comes to home maintenance, a little bit of hard work can make a big difference. The steps that you take in the coming weeks will have a major impact on your family’s comfort as well as your monthly bills once the weather starts to warm up.
