Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to prepare your home. If you take just a few simple steps now, you’ll be ready when summer arrives. Here are some tips on how to make your home summer-ready:
Clean the Air Conditioner
If you have an air conditioner, it’s essential to keep it clean. If you don’t do this, the buildup of dust and other dirt will make your AC unit less effective. This means that you’ll have to turn down the temperature or use more energy to cool your home down. Not only will this cost you more money, but it also makes for a less pleasant living environment!
Clean filters mean less energy required to cool down and better efficiency. Data shows that switching out your dirty air conditioner’s filter with a clean one can lower your energy bill by up to 15%. This means you can invest this saved money in other equipment to help make your stay at home more comfortable during summer.
Get a Fan or Two
Fans are a necessity for those hot summer days. According to research by the University of Sydney, fans are better for the environment than air conditioners. Moreover, they can also reduce energy usage by 76%, saving you a huge amount on utility bills. While the fans alone might not help cool down the temperature, you can use a combination of fans and ACs for optimal cooling.
There are several factors to consider when choosing a fan. Firstly, you want to ensure you have enough space for your fan and its location in the room. If you’re using it in your bedroom, try putting it on the floor or near a headboard, so it doesn’t take up too much space. Try mounting fans on walls or ceilings in large rooms like living rooms or kitchens for maximum airflow and aesthetics!
Quietness is also the key. Fans aren’t exactly known for being quiet, but if yours is loud enough to keep you up at night, this might be an issue worth addressing before using it during warmer months when it’s most likely going to be running more often than not.
Install Solar Screens
Solar screens block the sun’s harmful UV rays from entering the house and making it hotter. They can block up to 90% of the sun’s heat. Solar screens like these can help reduce the inside temperature by eliminating unwanted heat.
Besides cooling alone, they can also protect your house and skin against UV rays, helping to keep the air cool and fresh throughout the house. Many solar screens are easy to install and can last for years if cared for properly.
Check Your Garden Sprinklers to See If They Need Repair
Sprinklers will not only water your lawn, but they can also keep the inside of your house cool. When they sprinkle water on the lawn, the warmth in the air around your home goes down. This can help make the environment more comfortable. Hence, you need to check all the sprinklers for any repairs.
Check for leaks. You can do this by checking your water meter, which will register usage if there is a leak in your system. If you don’t have a water meter, check any areas of the yard that appear to be saturated or puddling with water.
Check for broken heads and clogs. Broken heads are easy enough to spot. If you find one on your property, remove it immediately so that no more damage is done to the lawn. Clogged sprinkler heads are harder to spot because they look normal when not working properly. Often, only a trained eye can detect them.
Make Sure You Have Enough Garden Hoses for All of Your Needs
If you want to hose down the patio and wash your car, you’ll need more than one garden hose. Make sure you have enough hoses for your yard.
If trees or bushes are in your yard, ensure the water doesn’t get caught up in them. Otherwise, it could damage them or cause mold growth on the bark. You’ll also want to ensure that when watering plants or washing a car, the water can reach all areas of your yard without getting stuck along its path, especially if there’s a lot of foliage blocking its way.
One of the best options for hoses is the flexible ones. Flexible garden hoses are more durable as they can tolerate more wear and tear due to their flexibility. Hence, the demand for flexible hoses is increasing. According to Grand View Research’s report, the global flexible garden hoses market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2020 through 2027.
Clean the Grills and Plan for Using Them at Least Twice a Week
Using the grills here means cooking outside your house. The real pleasure of cooking with grills is outdoors, such as in your yard or deck. This will limit the release of warm air in your kitchen and house. Hence, the air won’t get warm quickly. However, you must also clean the grills to enjoy the meals.
Any rust on the grate or grill frame means moisture has gotten inside them and can cause corrosion. This means that your food won’t get cooked evenly or quickly enough as it should be.
It’s also important to check all of the parts of your grill for damage before using them again; if something looks like it needs replacing (like an old burner), then replace it! If something happens while you’re cooking, you’ll have better luck with replacement parts rather than trying to fix whatever happened with duct tape. You can easily find online cleaning information resources if you haven’t cleaned a grill before.
Make a plan for using the grill at least twice a week throughout summer break! Even if it’s just cooking burgers once every few days, set aside time on those days so that you don’t forget about what an excellent addition these grills can be during the summer months and beyond.
Replace Light Bulbs With Ones That Are Best for Warm Weather
As the temperature rises and you start spending more time indoors, it’s essential to ensure your home is prepared for summer.
One way to do this is by swapping old light bulbs with ones best suited for warm weather. When selecting a new light bulb, you should look at three main factors: energy efficiency, heat output, and lumens per watt (LPW).
For example: If you’re looking at replacing an incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), which has high LPW but low energy efficiency, your best option would be an LED light bulb. It offers higher LPW than CFLs or incandescent. LEDs use 90% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Conclusion
You’re ready to enjoy the summer weather and all it offers. Hopefully, these tips have inspired you and given you some great ideas to make your home more summer-ready.
David Harrison
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