Between the piercing cold of the winter months and the constant showers of spring, the warm summer weather is a welcome change. There’s nothing quite like grilling for guests in your backyard or carefully selecting flowers for the perfect relaxing garden. But your home isn’t going to get itself ready for the temperature swing; you need to prepare your air conditioning and break out your patio furniture. To get the most out of this summer, make sure you take these steps to get your home prepared.
A Glorious Garden
Spring is the best time of year to plant your garden and summer is the best time to reap the benefits. Gardens add a beautiful visual element to your yard and give you a peaceful routine task to keep you busy and balanced. It’s good for both your mental and physical health.
Not only will your human guests enjoy your garden, critters in the area will love it, too. Gardens attract all sorts of insects and animals, from bees and butterflies to deer.
Outdoor Living
As the cool rain gives way to a warm breeze, it’s time to move your dinner parties from the comfort of your home to your backyard. Before you invite family and friends over for a cookout, make sure you have a good outdoor setup. Here are some tips:
- Seating: You have tons of options for outdoor seating; a good conversation set or dining set is great for entertaining guests. If you need additional seating, you can always opt for an outdoor bench or sofa.
- Tables: While many people choose a standard patio dining set, you have so many options. Outdoor coffee tables are great for drinks, reading and relaxing, and side tables provide guests with additional storage space.
- Lighting: Highlight the important aspects of your outdoor space with lights; string lighting gives your backyard a cozy, inviting feel, and solar path lights illuminate your walkway and garden(s).
Staying Cool
One of toughest parts of summer is staying cool. Without air conditioning, it can be difficult to lower the temperature of your home and keep it there. Make sure you have a plan for cooling your home and keeping it cool.
Any ceiling fans in your home should have a small switch on the side; one setting spreads warm air throughout the house during the winter, and the other provides a cool breeze in the summer. The right fan setting can save you tons on air conditioning costs.
If any of your windows don’t have proper blinds or curtains, install some before summer. Heat can easily pass through some windows, especially if they aren’t covered. You can actually get some stylish outdoor roller blinds that are reasonably priced too, so not only are blinds practical but they can complement any interior design.
Lastly, use nature to your advantage. Open the windows at night and in the morning, then shut them before it warms up outside to keep your home cooler.
Routine Maintenance
After months of being out of use, your central A/C can always use some maintenance. Have an HVAC professional clean your air conditioning unit and replace the filter to ensure your A/C is operating at maximum efficiency and not compromising your indoor air quality.
Your plumbing may also need some work before summer comes. Try some of these summer maintenance tips to get your home in tip-top shape:
- Check your sump pump to make sure it’s working.
- Make sure your washing machine hoses aren’t leaking or cracked.
- Check your toilet(s) for clogs and to make sure they don’t continue running after flushing.
- Deal with any spots in your yard that feel too wet, as this can be a sign of a broken sewage pipe.
Of course, if you don’t feel comfortable doing all of this yourself, or if you find any major issues, you can always call a professional to take care of your summer plumbing maintenance.
Getting your home ready for summer isn’t easy, but it’s a lot of fun and well worth the effort. Follow these summer preparation tips and your house can be the one all of your friends want to go to.
