In Florida, it stays hot for 8 months out of the year, however, July normally marks the beginning of summer. So as July comes to close, be sure to follow these 5 tips to ensure your home is in tip-top shape and ready for the new school year!
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 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 will be doing, you are going to want your deck and/or outdoor space to look its best. That means decluttering and blowing all the dead leaves away. You are also going to want to tend to your furniture. By using a mixture of water and dish detergent, scrub your furniture cushions and leave them out to dry. They will be as 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 should test your pool’s pH levels weekly to make sure they stay 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 to 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 per year to clear out built-up sediment and minerals that could affect its performance.
