10 Tips For Getting Your House Summer-ready
As the mercury begins to rise, it's time to get ready for kids home from school
, vacations, and getting your house geared up for hotter weather.
Home maintenance is often most manageable when broken up and done seasonally. There are many things to do over the coming weeks to prep your house and ensure your air conditioning runs smoothly, your patio and deck are in stellar shape for barbecues and get-togethers, and your summer months are relaxing and free from major home repair headaches.
Some of the key things to focus on include:
1.Your air conditioner. The California Energy Commission says one of the first things you should do is change the filters in your heating/cooling system. And, you should be doing this monthly.
2.Testing your thermostat by setting it to cool and turning the temperature down. If the air conditioner doesn't turn on, make sure no breakers are tripped. If the breakers are fine, then you need to make a call to a professional. The CEC says you should try to do this before you get into the thick of summer, because once the heat sets in, air conditioner repair people are busy and you could have a long wait.
3.Getting your air ducts tested for leaks, and then sealed.
4.Checking your attic insulation; chances are it has compacted and you may need another 5 to 8 inches.
5.Checking the caulking and weather stripping on your windows and doors. Sealing and insulating the "envelope" or "shell" of your home - its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors - is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR (a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outshoot) estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10 percent on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.
6.The Association for Homeowners Across America says you should also turn your attention to your clothes dryer. Clean lint from the entire vent system, from the dryer to the exterior vent cap. Lint is extremely flammable, posing a fire risk. If you have a gas dryer that isn't properly vented, it can force carbon monoxide back into the house, resulting in potentially dangerous consequences. There are 12,700 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings a year, resulting in 15 deaths and 300 injuries, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
7.The AHAA also recommends taking a look at your concrete patios and driveways and repair any cracks you have. For cracks less than 1/4" wide, apply concrete caulk; just clean the crack out with a high-pressure hose nozzle, let it dry and then apply the caulk into the crack. For larger cracks, substitute concrete patch for caulk.
8.Wash the exterior of your house, using ordinary garden hose pressure and a mild detergent. Beware of pressure washers -- they are powerful enough to force water under the siding where it can encourage mildew and rot.
9.Clean and seal your porch or deck. Ideally, you'll need three consecutive warm, sunny days. On day one, dry out the deck. Apply deck cleaner and scrub the deck on the second day and let it dry 24 hours. On the third day, apply deck sealer.
10.Stay pest-free. Just as we love the warmer weather, so too do pests like termites, ants, bees, flies, skunks, among others. The National Pest Management Association says more than 600,000 homes in the United States suffer termite damage, doing more than $1.5 billion in damage each year. Do your research and learn how to identify and control the pests in your area.
Get your work done now, and enjoy your summer!
by: Doug Buenz
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