Preparing Your Home for the Coming Heat

Recent temperatures should serve to remind us that the rainy season is coming to an end and the hot, dry days of summer are just around the corner. To help you keep your family, pets, and guests comfortable in the coming months, here are nine ways you can prepare your home and yard for increased heat.

Change your HVAC filters.
It is almost time to start using your air conditioner regularly, so it is a good time to change your HVAC filters in preparation for AC season.

Increase shade.
Provide shade for patios, play areas, dog runs, and other outdoor living areas to help keep your family and guests cool during the hotter months. This might mean finally building that roof to cover your patio, stringing up shade sails over gravel seating areas, or setting up umbrellas over your outdoor dining table.

Set out extra water bowls.
This is a good time to start getting in the habit of setting out extra water bowls for the animals that share your home and yard. That way, by the time the heat really arrives, this will be part of your normal routine.

Invest in blackout curtains or shades.
Blackout curtains are not for everyone, but if you would like to reduce the cost of cooling your home and take a step towards keeping it more comfortable for your family and pets, consider installing blackout curtains or shades to reduce the amount of heat from the sun that enters your home.

Install drip irrigation for food plants and ornamentals.
Controlled watering at soil level reduces water waste while helping plants better cope with the dry, hot weather the coming months will bring. Install an automatic irrigation system now to have it in place before summer.

Reduce water-loving landscaping.
Replace tropical plants and other landscaping features that require excessive irrigation with drought-tolerant native plants that will save water and help your yard look lush and beautiful even in the incessant summer heat.

Add insulation.
If it is in your budget, increase the insulation in your home. This will help keep your home comfortable throughout the year and reduce both cooling and heating costs.

Add or replace weather stripping and caulk.
Properly sealed doors and windows reduce air exchange, which means less hot air gets inside your home from the outside and less of the HVAC-cooled air inside your home escapes. You can improve the seal on your doors and windows by adding or replacing weather stripping and caulking.

Add fans to your home-cooling regimen.
While we cannot rely on fans to cool the air to a comfortable temperature, we can incorporate them into our cooling routine to help move HVAC-cooled air around the house and improve air circulation. This can reduce cooling costs and make your home more comfortable on hot days.

If you plan to install ceiling fans, blackout shades, a drip system, or any other heat-preparation measures that might require a professional, remember to support the local economy by using local contractors and vendors.

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AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, green living and travel writing. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.