August is hot — there’s no doubt about that! As temperatures rise and the sweat starts dripping off your back, it’s important not to let home maintenance slide. The heat is a burden on your HVAC system, landscape, and home exterior, too. Here are some tips to help you beat the heat and offer your home the care it needs during this season.
1. Clean or Change Your Air Filter
Your AC system has been running for a while now, so the filter has probably accumulated quite a lot of debris. Pushing air through a dirty filter puts a lot of strain on your air conditioner, especially when temperatures soar. If you have a reusable filter, this is a good time to clean it. If you have a disposable filter, change it.
2. Hose off Your Air Conditioner
A clean air conditioner is an efficient air conditioner! When you have a spare hour, hose off your outdoor air conditioning unit to remove dust, lawn clippings, and other debris. You can do a more thorough cleaning in the fall, but for now, this quick hose-off will help maintain efficiency through the summer.
3. Check Your Programmable Thermostat Settings
Now that you’re firmly rooted in a summer routine, check your programmable thermostat schedule and make sure it is still meeting your needs. If the system is cooling your home to 70 degrees when you’re not even home, for example, that is a waste of energy and stress on your AC unit. Many homeowners find that setting the temperature to 76 or 78 when they’re home and about 84 when they’re not home offers a good balance between efficiency and comfort.
4. Water Your Gardens and Grass Early
To help your landscape beat the heat, make sure you are watering either early in the morning or at sunset. Watering in the heat of the day can scorch and damage your plants. During a dry spell, you may actually want to water morning and evening.
5. Clean Your Windows
If there is any dirt or dust on the outside of your windows, the heat of the sun can really cake it on and make it harder to remove. Dirty windows are more likely to break down and lose efficiency over time. Take the time to properly wash the outsides of your windows one weekend.
6. Add More Mulch
Add an extra inch or two of mulch to your garden beds. This will help protect their roots from the scorching sun. It will also help trap more moisture in the soil so the plants don’t suffer on those super hot days.
7. Use Your Window Treatments
Make sure you are closing your window treatments when the sun is high. This will help keep your home cooler, reducing the burden on your air conditioner.
Follow the tips above to beat the heat this summer. If you’re looking for help with home maintenance, consider a seasonal home maintenance program with Hassle Free Home Services.
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