In Florida it stays hot for 8 months out of the year, however, July normally marks the beginning of summer. The cookouts start and families are starting to go on vacations. So before you begin with you July festivities make sure you follow these 5 tips to ensure your home is ready for the summer as well.
Seal It Up
Air conditioners are running full blast and homeowners are looking for any way to save on their energy bills. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to do that is to that is seal up all cracks and openings in your home. By doing this you can not only save energy by keeping the cool air in, you are also improving the air quality, preventing moisture, and prolonging the life of your HVAC system. When sealing up your home be sure to look for leaks around doors, windows, attic access panels, canned lighting, electrical outlets, and switch plates. By sealing up your home you literally prevent money from flying out the window.
Hit the Deck
With all the cookouts and outdoor entertaining you are going to be doing you are going to want your deck and/or outdoor space to look it’s best. That means decluttering and blowing all the dead leaves away. You are also going to want to attend to your furniture. By using a mixture of water and dish detergent and scrubbing your furniture cushions and leaving them out to dry, they will be clean as a whistle. A good power wash for the deck and/or patio area wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Don’t Forget the Pool
Being the main focus of the backyard and the center of attention for every party, you will want to make sure your pool is in tip top shape. You will want to test your pool’s pH levels weekly to make sure it stays between 7.2 – 7.8. In Florida, we typically don’t have a problem remembering our pool since 9 times out of 10 it is plenty hot to swim, but if you have been neglecting your pool or chemistry isn’t your forte you may want to consider hiring a pool maintenance company.
Window Inspections
If you have old or poorly installed windows your home could be leaking cool air and letting in bugs, which is never a good thing. So to ensure that doesn’t happen to you inspect your windows and make sure there are no gaps and the insect screen has no holes in it.
Water Heater Care
Flushing your water heater improves your unit’s efficiency and life span, just like changing your car’s oil. The water heater should be flushed at least once a year in order to clear out built-up sediment and minerals that could affect its performance.