Sure, summer is time for the beach, cookouts, pool/beach time, and relaxation. But it’s also the perfect time of year for summer home improvement ideas, which can make a difference in your home all year long!
Drum roll . . . here are some great summer home improvement ideas to get started on now!
With the nice weather, it is easy to get these updates done before the cooler weather arrives and you can reap the benefits all year long.
Summer is here and that means we’ve entered a new season to focus on home maintenance and improvements. Summers can be hot and muggy here in New England, but there are several improvements and fixes you can focus on to make your home as cool and energy efficient as possible.
The summer home maintenance tips will get you through the season while helping keep your energy costs in control. Taking care of the projects now could save you from expensive and stressful fixes in the future.
#1: Check For Window Energy Loss
While opening your windows during the summer, you may have noticed they’re a little worse for wear as well as old windows can cause drafts, while installing new ones can cut your home energy costs in summer. Plus, new windows can be an easy way to transform the look of your home, especially when combined with other home projects.
This list of summer home maintenance tips will help you save energy and the #1 culprit is Air Leakage which accounts for the largest heat loss/gain in your home. That’s why we are starting with your windows.
Did you know that windows account for up to 30% of your home energy bills?
Outdated windows are a primary source for energy loss in the summer especially when running your ACs non-stop. Despite running your AC, your house may still feel warm with high energy bills to boost. If this sounds like you, there is a solution.
How to Check for Air Leaks
Feel around your windows for hot air that is coming through areas such as the frames or the sash. While homeowners worry about air infiltration problems in the winter, it can be a problem during the summer as well. Reducing air leakage is one of the top ways to keep your home energy efficient!
Professional window installation creates an airtight seal against energy loss. This happens when they are measured properly down to the 8th of an inch during a professional critical measurement.
Besides Air Leakage, reduce your heat gain during the A/C season by selecting a window with:
- A glass package rated by Energy Star climate zone having a low U-Factor which measures how well the window prevents heat from entering or escaping the home & provides better insulation.
- Low solar heat gain coefficient measures how much heat from the sun is blocked. *Very important in the summer!
Low E which keeps UV rays reflecting back outside while keeping the energy inside.
Help keep the warm air where it belongs—outside your home.
#2: Investigate The Cause Of Foggy Windows
Looking for more summer home improvement ideas? It’s time to address those foggy windows. If the foggy windows seem like they never clear up, this signals a potential problem. Fog on your windows that won’t wipe away is a sign of seal failure. It means that the windows are not performing properly, indicating that the seal is failing. This means the window cannot properly insulate your home in summer or winter.
Now that the seal is broken, however, the problem will persist, as its enhanced insulating factor is now gone. First, check to see if your windows come with a lifetime warranty as ours does. If you have permanently foggy windows or if your windows are old- it’s time for new window replacement.
#3: Reverse Ceiling Fans
While this is a quick and easy fix, the direction of your ceiling fans can make a big difference when it comes to keeping your home cool. In fact, reversing your ceiling fans into a counterclockwise spinning motion will push air down from the ceiling and make it feel cooler in the room.
It’s easy to adjust the rotation of your ceiling fan. Simply turn the fan off, waiting for it to stop and flip the switch on the side of the fan. From there, make sure that your fan is spinning in a counterclockwise direction.
Ceiling fans provide energy-efficient cooling and are a great alternative to AC units. Even if your home has central air, installing a ceiling fan can be a great solution for those extremely hot heat wave days!
#4: Finetune Your AC Unit
Looking for even more summer home improvement ideas? Consider getting your HVAC unit inspected by a professional. Air conditioning maintenance along with changing the filter to make sure that the AC is working in proper order. It will also help conserve energy and ensure you have air conditioning all summer long. Meanwhile, a clean air conditioning unit can also prevent summer fires.
If you’re looking for summer home improvements to save you money, consider installing a programmable thermostat. It’s easy and efficient, allowing you to customize temperature profiles as you see fit. According to Energy Star, you can save an average of $180 in heating and cooling costs by installing programmable thermostats.
Smart thermostats, such as those by Nest, operate via wifi and are controlled by your smartphone. You can adjust the temperature of your home while you’re away to save even more in energy costs. They are proven to save up to 12% on heating costs and 15% on cooling costs.
For more information on smart thermostats, check out the blog from our partner Homeworks Energy: Is a smart thermostat really worth it?
Draining your water heater is one of the simplest home maintenance tasks out there and yields impressive. All it requires is simply draining the water heater to clear the sediment to get more hot water flowing through your pipes.
#5: Overhaul Your Entry Door
A new entry door makes a big difference in curb appeal and home performance. Many homes have old wood doors from eras gone by, but replacing them with quality fiberglass eliminates maintenance while increasing curb appeal.
When you are inspecting your current entry door, look for signs of damage and performance problems such as:
- Wood rot at the door thresholds compromises the door’s structural integrity
- Peeling and chipping of paint
- Damaged hardware or locks that won’t work
- Seeing light around the door frames
Bonus summer home maintenance tip: Choose a storm door that offers additional benefits aside from front door protection. Storm doors can allow incredible amounts of natural light into your space, especially when you choose one design with full screen/glass. Best of all, you can customize your new storm door to match your entry door!
#6: Check Your Roof And Ceiling For Leaks
During summer rainstorms, you can quickly become aware of roof leaks when they are heavy and prominent. Other times, a roof leak can happen right under your nose. You might not notice the issue until there is significant water damage to your house.
Now is the time to look around for signs of a leaky roof before it’s too late. You might notice signs such as condensation on the rafter beams in your attic.
In worst cases, you might find mold or mildew there, too. Meanwhile, look around for yellow or brown stains on the ceiling and walls. You may also find stains near windows, which can also be leaking from summer storms.
If you discover leaks in your roof, consider:
- Roof replacement with high-performance leak barrier protection and unlimited warranty protection that helps prevent leaks caused by wind-driven rain and ice dams.
- Our GAF Roofing system uses Tiger Paw to help shield the roof deck from moisture infiltration.
- Another area is to make sure you have at least 6’ ice and water protection along the eaves and rakes- vulnerable areas on your roof.
#7: Get Your Gutters In Order
It isn’t time for autumn leaves, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your gutters this season. Clogged gutters can create big and expensive problems for your home.
Whether it’s a gentle spring rain or a summer storm, water should run freely through the gutter system. If your gutters cannot handle rainfall in any amount, this will pose problems for the interior and exterior of your home.
Make sure your gutters are completely unclogged from any debris. If you did not clean out your gutters during the spring season, make sure you tackle this project pronto. A clogged gutter can do damage ranging from ruining your landscaping to causing the basement flood.
The best course of action is to install gutter protection, keeping debris at bay while avoiding costly consequences of clogged gutters.
#8: Revive Your Exterior Siding
The last summer season maintenance task to tackle involves your exterior siding.
The siding of your home should be a peak performance condition every season of the year. You want to look out for signs such as peeling, chips, or damaged siding.
Wood rot will need to be replaced immediately. You can opt for vinyl siding that looks like wood to create your dream home this summer season, all while skipping maintenance and expensive repairs to wood siding.
Don’t forget that insulated siding is also energy efficient. Vinyl siding with an insulated backing can help prevent heat from penetrating inside the walls during the summer. This results in a cool and comfortable home to enjoy even during the hottest days.
In terms of termites, vinyl siding is the best option for getting rid of this creepy critter. Our vinyl siding is treated to repel insects, keeping your siding beautiful and free from holes made by bugs. Wood-boring insects aren’t interested in a vinyl exterior!
Upgrade to James Hardie® Siding this Summer Season
If you are looking to overhaul your exterior, James Hardie® yields over 100% ROI with plenty of incredible benefits. It provides an incredible exterior transformation with quality fiber cement with eye-popping texture. Best of all, the Statement Color collection offers a palette of both trendy and traditional colors.
Save more energy this summer . . .
- Uninsulated exterior walls are subject to energy loss through every season.
- Rigid foam insulation prevents energy loss through wood studs.
- Rigid foam is precisely engineered based on New England climate.
Did you know that James Hardie® siding also helps reduce air infiltration?
- You lose up to 30% of your home’s energy through the walls.
- HardieWraps act as a continuous barrier against energy loss.
- Insulating down to the wood studs stops heat transfer in its tracks.
Recap: Summing up Our Top Summer Home Maintenance Tips
Here are our top 8 summer home maintenance tips that can help save money & keep your home safe and cool.
- Check Your Windows For Energy Loss
- Investigate The Cause Of Foggy Windows
- Reverse Ceiling Fans
- Finetune Your AC Unit
- Overhaul Your Entry Door
- Check Your Roof For Ceiling Leaks
- Get Your Gutters In Order
- Revive Your Exterior Siding
It’s not too late to get started on summer projects like window replacement, roofing installation, best vinyl siding & entry door installation.
Summer is the best time for home improvements:
- Great Weather & Longer Days
- Locking In Your Order
- Contractor Availability
- Energy Savings
- Curb Appeal
- Fast Tracked-Getting Your Projects Complete Before Winter!
ACT NOW and save with our summer promotions! We’re on standby to learn more about your needs this summer, and you can get started by contacting us now for a quote.
Sources:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherize/air-sealing-your-home
