Although it may feel like spring has just arrived, summer time is right around the corner and its high temperatures are already starting to make their grand appearance. Summer time can be pretty expensive when it comes to your home due to storms, running the air conditioning and overall summer damaged. All the same, there’s a few simple things you can do around the house to make the impact of summer less of a burden on your house and family. These ten suggestions are easy to do and will save you a fortune when it comes to repairs on the home. So, grab your sunblock and shades, because completing these tasks will open up your summer for fun.
1. Swap Screens
One thing that goes unnoticed in the house is actually the window screens. They are pretty much forgotten for years, but they do a whole lot to keep your home in good order. Before summer arrives, you should take out your screens and give them a proper cleaning. This is the perfect time to assess if they need to be replaced or if they will live to see another year. If your screen has large gaps, holes or doesn’t fit on the window frame properly then it is definitely time for a replacement. You won’t want this screen on your home because it will easily let in spiders, mosquitoes, flies and other pests that tend to make the hot months even more miserable. If you’re living in a hot climate, then you may also want to consider upgrading your screens to solar screens. These help knock out a bit of the heat that the sun creates. With these screens in place, your home will stay cooler, which is sure to cut down on the power bill.
2. Switch Fans
When it comes to cutting the bills in the summer time, fans are pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is especially the case if you have energy efficient fans or ceiling fans as they will help you keep cool with ease. However, if you forget to switch the rotation of your fan, you could end up just pushing around hot air, which is going to make you feel warmer than ever. Thus, before you forget, make sure to check that your fan is moving counterclockwise. There is usually a simple switch on the fan that will allow you to do this. This will help cool down the air in the house, which is perfect for the moderate heat.
3. Change Filters
It’s pretty hard to remember to swap out filters as often as we should. So, one easy way to do this is to change them when a new season begins. Summer time is especially important though because there’s many filters that will come in handy. Allergies tend to still be high in the summer time, so you’ll want to ensure your air filter is still going strong. You should also replace the filter on the air conditioner because it has been sitting for so long and could probably use a good cleaning. This will help cut down on your energy costs too. Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to change up your water filter. Your family will consume a lot more water in the summer time, so you’ll want to make sure it is fresh and drinkable. If you have poor water in your community, you’ll also want to make sure the main filter is going strong so your kids can play in the sprinklers or pool without harm.
4. Consider a Soaker Hose
If you like to keep your lawn looking incredible or you have a garden, then a soaker hose may be the solution to your problem. Usually, during the summer, many people tend to waste a whole lot of water by keeping a sprinkler system going to simply spraying down their plants with a hose. The soaker hose is actually designed to be much healthier for your plants and will save you a small fortune on your water bill. The soaker hose slowly releases water to the plants, so they won’t wind up scorched or over watered. This way, you won’t have to worry about when you water your plants, nor will you have to spend the time watering each plant. A soaker hose combined with a timer can make your summer an absolute breeze when it comes to landscaping and the bills.
5. Prep Your Grill
Is summer even possible without the taste of grilled food and the smoky smell of summer barbecues? Maybe, but in an ideal world this isn’t the case. Thus, you may want to take some time out to prep your grill so you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way. Your grill could probably use a good cleaning after sitting around without being used for so long. This shouldn’t take very long, especially if you upkeep your grill well. You may also want to do a trial run to make sure everything is still working properly before you host a get together. This will give you a great idea if you need to go ahead and purchase a new grill or at least an upgrade to get you through the summer. With your grill running properly, you’ll be able to cook more outside which will help keep your home cooler and your electric and gas bill down.
6. Check the Roof
All those April showers, winter snows, windy afternoons and sunny days may have done a number on your roof. Luckily, the weather is a lot better around this time of the year which will give you plenty of time to get on top of the house and to check out what your roof has going on. Generally, most new rooves should be able to withstand the elements; however, it’s important to keep up maintenance on the home. If you can, write down everything you need to check before you head up to the roof. You should always check for loose shingles which is an easy to fix problem you can do without breaking a sweat or opening up your wallet. Other problems may need a professional’s touch, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid them. Getting the problem fixed right away is sure to prevent other problems which may cost you a whole lot of money in the long run. Other roofing problems could also lead to an energy loss, which could make your bills skyrocket. So, don’t shy away from this job or else you may really pay for it.
7. Cover Windows
One of the main reasons why your home heats up so quickly has to do more with your windows than other elements. Bare windows are sure to cause a lot of problems, especially as the sun stays longer throughout the day and beats harder on your home. There’s a few ways to cut down on this problem though. You may want to consider buying some window tinting for the home. This will help keep the house cooler without obstructing your view of outside. If you don’t like this look then it may be time to consider heavy drapes. Like in the winter time, the drapes will actually help absorb some of the energy, so you won’t have to deal with the warm seeping into the home. Blinds are another must, especially sets that are designed to block out the heat and light. Last but not least, if you’re truly hoping for a cheap option, you can place tinfoil on the windows, which helps block out the light and keep each room cool. On a more positive note, all of these ideas will also help you sleep longer during the day, which is sure to improve your health.
8. Check Your Air Conditioning
If it gets really hot in the summer, then you probably know that air conditioning becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. However, your air conditioner can cause a lot of problems if you’re not careful. Before the summer heat fully gets here, you should take the time to make sure your air conditioning is working properly. For instance, simply running it should give you an idea of if you’re set for summer. This can be crucial because you don’t want to deal with a broken air conditioner when the heat wave finally arrives. Also, this will give you an idea of whether or not your air conditioner needs to be serviced simply by checking out how much water and electric it is using. If your air conditioner isn’t up to par, then you might want to consider getting a few energy efficient upgrades before you need to constantly run your air conditioner.
9. Clear Out Your Freezer
Summer seems to be a time filled with freezer foods that cool you down and make you feel incredible. The only problem is, you may not be able to fit all of your new popsicles and grilling meats in your freezer if you don’t do a bit of cleaning. This is a great time to clean out your freezer anyway as it will allow you to dispose of or cook up any food that may have been in the freeze for way too long. You should also use this time to see if you overlooked some foods over the seasons. Before you know it, you may have meal plans that won’t cost you a small fortune. Not to mention, this will allow you to grill up some of your older foods at a barbecue so you can save money on your first summer get together. Clearing out your freezer can help you save on food substantially and will make room for summer favorites like popsicles, ice scream and smoothie mixes.
10. Spray Your Yard
One of the bad things about summer is the pests move in quickly which can cause a big problem for both the interior and the exterior of your home. Thus, it is incredibly important to spray your yard often so that your family won’t have to deal with bugs that wander into your yard. Fleas are especially bad during this time of the year and can make the interior and the exterior of your home suffer if you’re not careful. Luckily, there’s lots of great things on the market to take care of this problem. You can even make your own home remedies too, which is sure to save you a whole bunch of money. By spraying the yard yourself, you can easily cut back on the expenditures because it should allow you to stay pest free without dealing with the professional element. Apart from spraying your yard, you may want to leave salt around the home too, especially the windows, to ensure ants and other bugs stay out of the home.
Summer time can be your friend if you’re prepared for it to grace its presence. With these ten tips you should be able to brace yourself for the summer months. You’ll be able to ease yourself into the weather change while saving quite a bit of money with almost no effort at all. This is sure to start your summer off on the right track.
