Summer is here, and it’s hot! So when the best way to escape rising temperatures is to just stay inside, why not check a few things off your home maintenance checklist? After all, a clean, efficient home is not only super important all year round, but it’s crucial for your health and comfort during the hottest months of the year! So we’ve created a list of indoor home improvement projects you can do to help you beat the heat this summer.
- Clean Your Filters
Air conditioning becomes your best friend when temperatures start hitting the 80s and 90s. Make sure that your AC is working to its fullest potential by cleaning out the filters in your unit. It’s pretty easy; filters can often be washed with just a bit of warm water or cleaned out with a vacuum brush. And if you have a disposable filter — even easier! The dog days of summer are a perfect time to see if it needs to be replaced. Routine filter cleaning or replacement will not only keep you more comfortable, but it can help keep your home safer. When excess dust and dirt accumulate within your filter it can increase the risk of catching fire. Let’s keep the fire on the grill!
Pro tip: Your HVAC system should be checked/serviced every six months by a professional. Cleaning or replacing your filter is a great way to maximize your comfort in between visits, but an experienced technician can make sure there is no damage or issues with the system for complete peace of mind.
- Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
If your ceiling fan is spinning in a clockwise direction, it’s not helping to cool your home! During the summer months, switch your ceiling fan direction so that it is spinning counterclockwise. The motion created by the counterclockwise spin will push air downwards, creating an artificial gust of wind. This downwards airflow will keep you cool, as opposed to the updraft created by a clockwise spin. To reverse your fan’s flow, simply flip the direction switch on the body of the fan or wherever your ceiling fan’s control center is located.
- Check Your Home’s Cooling Features
There’s no point in having weather stripping if it doesn’t work! In the summer, make sure that your home’s weather stripping is intact so that your doors and windows keep the cool air in, and the hot air out. If there are drafts or leaks through your weather stripping, now is the time to update!
And while you’re at it, check your home’s vents and air ducts to ensure that your cooling systems are working properly. To routinely check your air ducts for leaks or damage, simply sweep over your system for any obvious tears. You can also unscrew your vents and look for particle buildup or mildew that can keep clean air from circulating in your home.
- Update Your Summer-Friendly Decor
The way you furnish and decorate your home can influence how cool it is in more ways than one. Here are some ways to create a cool escape inside your home:
- Use curtains that are stylish and functional! In the summer, thermal and insulated curtains can help keep cool air in and hot air out. Light-colored curtains with a reflective backing can help reflect heat and radiation away from your home.
- Paint colors can actually determine your home’s temperature. Lighter interior paint colors reflect light and heat, keeping your walls cool.
- LED bulbs produce less heat than CFLs, so using these types of lightbulbs can really affect cooling too. Maybe it’s time for a switch!
- Synthetic carpeting can trap heat in the summer months. Switching to wood or tile floors can help keep your home cool and create a sleek new look (while almost always improving your home value too!).
- Replace Faucets and Showerheads
Updating your showerheads, faucets, and other hardware is a simple task that can completely change a room. Plus, you can do it indoors to be productive while avoiding the heat! Switching out an old showerhead or faucet can create a new, modern look and help improve water flow. By replacing a blocked or old showerhead, you can make sure the water is flowing to its full potential – because those cold showers are too important on the hottest of days!
With these simple projects, you and your home will be ready to beat the heat, no matter how hot it may get! For questions you have about your cooling or plumbing, or for any other summer maintenance needs, contact us today!