Prepare Your Home for Summer: DIY Tips and When to Call the Pros
As summer approaches, ensuring your home is ready for the season is essential for both comfort and safety. While some home maintenance projects can be costly, there are several you can tackle yourself to save money and still get your home summer-ready. Here’s a guide to help you decide which tasks you can DIY and which ones are best left to professionals.
DIY Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer
Seal Windows and Doors Drafts can let your cool air conditioning escape, compromising your comfort and increasing your energy bills. Use weather stripping, caulk, and draft stoppers to seal windows and doors. These easy and renter-friendly DIY tasks can improve your home’s energy efficiency and keep cool air inside during hot months.
Set Up an Air Purifier and Change Air Filters Air quality is important year-round, but warm temperatures often bring increased pollutants like pollen and particulate matter. Air purifiers can capture these pollutants, allowing you to breathe easier. For optimal protection, consider a UV air purifier that eliminates harmful particles such as pathogens, bacteria, pet dander, and dust. Also, remember to change air filters in your air conditioners and HVAC systems regularly.
Maintain Your Lawn and Garden Regular mowing, weeding, and watering can keep your lawn and garden vibrant throughout summer. Planting drought-resistant plants and using mulch can reduce water usage and maintenance time. Installing a rain barrel can help conserve water while keeping your garden hydrated. Check with your local government for rebate programs on water-saving technologies.
Install a Smart Thermostat A smart thermostat helps keep your HVAC system running efficiently and reduces energy costs. Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to schedule temperature changes for convenience. With added sensors and Wi-Fi connectivity, you can control the thermostat remotely, optimizing temperatures and reducing stress on your system.
Tasks Best Left to the Experts
Tune Up Your HVAC System Your HVAC system is crucial for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. A yearly professional tune-up ensures the system runs efficiently and helps prevent costly breakdowns. Poorly handled HVAC tune-ups can lead to lost efficiency and increased costs, and an amateur job poses a serious risk of injury. Trust a professional to clean ducts, check for refrigerant leaks, and ensure all components are in good working order.
Trim and Remove Trees Large tree limbs can become hazardous during summer storms, posing a risk to your home and its occupants. Professionals have the equipment and expertise to safely trim or remove trees without endangering themselves or your property.
Inspect and Repair the Roof A professional inspection can identify potential issues like loose shingles, leaks, or structural damage. Experts have the tools and knowledge to conduct repairs safely and ensure your roof can withstand summer storms.
Clean the Gutters Keeping your gutters clean is essential to prevent water damage. However, this task can be dangerous. According to the CDC, more than 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries each year, with about 300 fatalities. Given the potential risk, it is highly recommended to enlist professionals for gutter cleaning.
Preparing your home for summer can be manageable and cost-effective if you know which tasks to DIY and which to delegate to professionals. Use these tips to ensure your home is safe and comfortable all season long.
