With summer just around the corner, it’s time to make sure that your home is in tip-top shape for the hotter months. You will most likely be spending a lot of time outside, so it won’t harm to have your home looking and feeling great. Besides the appearance side of things, starting summer preparations while you still have time can help you bring down energy bills and improve the overall shape of your home. Here are five home tips to prepare your home for summer.
A/C Maintenance
If you stay in California, the last thing you need is to flip the A/C switch in summer and discover that it’s not working. When your A/C has been sitting for a long time without being used, it will collect dirt and debris; therefore, some maintenance is needed to ensure that when the time comes, it will run at maximum efficiency. If you don’t prepare your A/C for summer, you might end up having to ensure a lot of hot days and paying large sums of money to bring it back to life.
Insulation
Having properly installed insulation can help you save significantly on your energy bills. Without insulation, a lot of heat will either come in or leave through the cracks and crevices in your house. This will result in the HVAC working overtime to maintain your desired temperature. As a result, you will use more energy, and your HVAC parts will be worn out quicker. It is also advisable to look for a professional when you want to install insulation. That way, you will be guaranteed that everything has been done properly.
Do Your Landscaping
Summer brings with it a lot of outdoor activities, including outdoor barbecues and games for children. As many people start spending time outdoors, it is important to ensure that your yard is entertainment-worthy.
One of the first things you will want to do is water your lawn correctly. Summer doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to drown your lawn in as much water as possible. It is the way you water that’s important, not the amount of water you use. Your lawn is equipped with mechanisms that help it deal with the hotter months, so it only needs enough moisture to stay alive. Instead of watering every day, ensure that when you water, you let the water go deep. You should also water in the morning or evening when it’s not too hot.
Apart from watering, you should ensure the health of your lawn. It should stay well-aerated, and you have to check the soil pH as well. Doing that will help ensure that your grass stays looking green all the time. Lastly, do some research and find out how to mow your lawn correctly.
Check out the Patio and Pavements
Pavements and decks need a great deal of maintenance. When summertime comes, you will want to make sure that there are no broken joints or crevices in your stonework. Doing this can prevent much bigger problems from happening. If you have wooden decks, it is also advisable to have them stained and sealed so that they won’t be damaged by insects in summer. You also don’t want them splintering and decaying.
Organize Your Backyard
Summer is loved by humans and animals alike. As the weather starts getting warmer, rodents and snakes will start coming out to enjoy the sunlight. It is, therefore, important that you ensure that your backyard is organized. Having items lying around in your backyard is not advisable as these can become hiding places for snakes and rodents. As summer is approaching, you should take time to put away unnecessary items and keep only what you really need. If you have children, they will most likely spend a lot of time outdoors, and you don’t want to keep worrying about their safety.
Summer preparations may seem unnecessary, but the financial advantages that come with doing them will dwarf any feelings of being annoyed. Having an efficient A/C and proper insulation can significantly lower your energy bills during the warmer months. Use the home tips mentioned in this article and others you might come across to ensure that your home is ready for summer.
