As the summer months arrive, it’s a good time to inspect your home to ensure that you’re prepared for the warmest months of the year. There are a number of things that you may not have looked at since last summer that may need attention. Handling these things now will ensure that these aspects of your home are working properly when you need them to. Here are a few tips for preparing your home for summer with whole home inspections.
When the warm summer months arrive, the sun’s rays will beam through certain windows of your home, acting as a natural heater. This is not what you want when you’re trying to cool your home down. Whether you add window treatments, blinds, or solar screens, keeping the direct sunlight out of your home will keep your family cool. Additionally, it will keep your air conditioning bills lower as the system won’t have to work as hard to keep your home at the right temperature.
While you’re completing an inspection of your home, you should check your exterior doors for a lack of weatherstripping. If you notice that sunlight is entering through open spaces, there is enough space between the outer part of the door and home that warm air can travel through. This will make your air conditioning unit work harder to keep your home cool. If you notice cracks in your doors, you should add weatherstripping. This will ensure that your home is properly sealed during the hot summer months.
Your air conditioning unit consists of an inside and outdoor unit that work together to cool in the inside of your home. Your outdoor unit features vertical coil fins that are located on the side of the unit. Keeping these fins clean and clear will allow you to improve the airflow of the unit. The dust and debris that may regularly collect on these fins can be easily sprayed off with a garden hose. To experience a better performance from your unit, it’s also recommended that you keep any foliage away from it.
The refrigerant line of your air conditioning unit runs from the inside air handler to the condenser of the outdoor unit. This line should have insulation foam around it to maintain the unit’s efficiency and keep condensation from dripping into the attic and other spaces. This foam should run the length of the line but, over time, UV light from the sun causes this foam to break down, causing the need for replacement. Checking that the line still has foam on it will ensure the efficiency of your unit and the safety of the structure and occupants of your home.
Your attic is located just above your conditioning space and is also naturally the hottest part of your home. Keeping proper insulation and ventilation in the attic will allow it to be cooler. This is especially important because air ducts run through the attic. Improving its insulation and ventilation will allow the conditioned air to be cooler for the more efficient cooling of your home.
When summer comes, it brings with it the warmest weather of the year. The most important part of your home during this time of year is your air conditioning as it will keep you cool and comfortable. Completing whole home inspections in Philadelphia, PA will ensure that your system is in good condition before that hot weather arrives. Contact Eagle Inspections if you’re in need of a quality inspection of your home.