10 Steps to protect your home from the heat this summer

Your home is exposed to the impact of weather changes during the whole year. From frozen pipelines in winter to clogged gutters in fall, there’s a list of things you should take care of every season to keep your home cozy and avoid further and more expensive repairs. Here’s a list of tips to get your home ready for summer:

1. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. To avoid possible accidents that could put you and your loved ones in danger, you must make sure they’re working properly.
2. Checking your A/C unit –preferably by a certified technician- is a necessary precaution to have before the season begins. Remember filters must be checked periodically as well and vents must be cleared and free of dust. This will also improve the efficiency of the unit and help you save a few dollars in energy bills. Ceiling fans must also be cleaned and set to spin counter-clockwise to pull the hot air up. This will improve your comfort during the hottest months.
3. Your lawn may suffer the worst of the season if it’s not taken care of properly. Make sure your sprinkler system is working correctly and program the watering schedule beforehand. Losing your grass to the heat and having to get it replaced is an expensive task you want to avoid.
4. Heat and drought might take a toll on your caulking. You want to make sure your home is well insulated during the hot season –and the cold one to come.
5. Repairs are easier to do in dry weather. This is your chance to inspect your home and repair any water leakage on the roof, water pipes or hoses. Check your attic and basement, look for mold or mildew, and find the sign of pests you should get rid of.
6. Warmer days bring many unwanted visitors to your home. Window screens are a perfect way to protect you and your family from mosquitoes and other insects. Cleaning them with soap and hot water or replacing them altogether is a measure you’ll be glad you’ve taken.
7. Take a look at the roof and spot any loose tiles, mold or leaks. These are easier to fix during summer and making small repairs in time keeps you from bigger ones in the long term.
8. You probably will spend a lot of time in the pool with your family during summer. Take some time between pool parties to check on the water pumps and filters. Also, you might consider taking precautions so your pool doesn’t become the new spot of an unwanted animal visitor.
9. This dry season is the perfect time to do outdoor home tasks like repainting, waxing and polishing the outside of your home as well as outdoor furniture. This is also the perfect opportunity to wash your windows from the outside and the exterior of your home and inspect the deck and siding.
10. Keeping your gutters clean is a must –not only to avoid pests but to prepare for the seasons to come.

For more recommendations, check the ones the National Association of Home Builders has for you. If this sounds daunting perhaps you should consider a new home, which are built with insulated roofs, windows and heating/water systems and materials that are more resistant to weather and the transitions of the seasons. This results in fewer repairs every year and –of course— less time spent in preparing for summer.

While you prepare your checklist for this summer, take a look at the new maintenance-free homes of Corbinton communities we’re building here in North Carolina. Blue Heel Development’s team members will meet with you to help you write your next story!  Please check out our beautiful new home plans here or contact us to schedule a meeting!