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Most homeowners are familiar with winterizing their homes, a process that involves sealing doors and windows against the draft and scheduling a furnace check. However, did you know that you should also do several things ahead of the summer season?
Preparing your home for summer helps you to cool your space more efficiently. It also helps you to avoid seasonal dust and allergies. Below are five things you can do to get your home ready for summer so that when you get there, you can relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Inspect your gutters
There is something special and relaxing about summer rain, provided your gutters are functional, and you don’t have to worry about water seeping into your house.
The winter season can take a toll on your gutters. Therefore, you should inspect them to ensure they aren’t clogged and are pointing away from your foundation. You shouldn’t risk water pooling in your basement because this could lead to extensive damage.
Clean, repair, or replace your siding
If you want your home to look great for the summer, you can start by cleaning it. Siding is easy to clean and you can do this regularly. Ideally, you should wash your siding at least three times a year. Use a power washer to get rid of any dirt, dust, bird droppings, and tree sap.
Although siding is durable, sometimes it can break or become damaged. Cold air and bad weather can also cause it to crack, and you may need to repair it. If your siding is old, broken, or damaged, it can make your home look unclean and unkempt.
In such a case, consider hiring a siding repair and installation contractor.
Spring cleaning
There is a reason why homeowners choose to do thorough cleaning during spring. During winter, homes are normally closed off to outside air, which causes a lot of dust to accumulate.
However, spring weather brings a renewed sense of energy, making spring the perfect time to spot all that built-up debris. Spring cleaning involves cleaning all those items and areas that don’t get routine cleaning:
- Vacuuming the curtains
- Washing the windows, including the sills and window trims
- Dusting your indoor and outdoor light fixtures
- Cleaning the dryer vent
- Disinfecting surfaces like cabinet hardware and stair rail
The rule of thumb when cleaning your home is that you should first dust and vacuum – then proceed to pick the dirt that falls off. As summer approaches, it is also important to inspect and clean the siding to keep your home protected and appealing.
Ensure the thermostat is functioning properly
You wouldn’t want to wait until the summer heat sets in only to realize that your thermostat is not working. You can test your thermostat by first putting it in AC mode. Then turn the air to five degrees more than your home’s temperature.
Your system should swing into action, and you should be able to notice cool air coming out of the air vents. If you notice that the airflow is restricted in any way, it is a sign that you have an issue.
Now would be a good time to upgrade your thermostat. The new system will give you assurance and peace of mind that everything is working as it should. A well-functioning thermostat could also help you save up to 15% on summer cooling bills.
Maintain your HVAC system
Your HVAC systems have a huge job coming up in the summer. The best thing you can do to prepare your home for summer is to ensure that your system is running properly. Seasonal allergies are common during summer. Therefore, you should ensure that the air filters are clean and ready to go. Whether or not you should replace the filters will depend on the last replacement and the type of filter.
You should prepare your HVAC system for summer by ensuring that all the visible areas around the system are free from clutter and debris. It is advisable to leave a free space of around two feet around every component. You should turn off the water that goes to the furnace humidifier; you will turn on the water in the fall.
Ensure that the ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise
In summer, you want your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise. This will push down cool air instead of the other way round. Rotating the fans counterclockwise also helps draw moisture from the air, which is particularly important if you live in a high-humidity climate.
You want to ensure that your ceiling fans always run counterclockwise every time you run your air conditioning. This will turn your AC up a few degrees and help you cool your home more efficiently.
Bottom Line
Is your home ready for summer? Take some time to take care of the outlined tasks. It’s always advisable to prioritize preventive maintenance practices to avoid costly repairs in the future.