Summer is right around the corner and that means that South Floridians need to prepare for some extreme temperatures and the possibility of some strong storms. With this said, it may be a good time to confirm that your home is as prepared as possible for the upcoming months of extreme heat and possible strong storms. We discuss a few items to keep in mind below.
The summer preparation checklist
There are a few key areas of the home that will keep you feeling cool, comfortable, & safe during the summer months. Some of these items are as follows:
- Roof: When it comes to your home’s efficiency, few things are as important as your roof. Not only does the roof protect the home from harsh UV rays, it also aids with insulation. As a best practice, homeowners should carefully inspect the inside and outside of your home at least a few times every year. In addition to maximizing insulation for the home, a solid roof will prevent any water or even rodent intrusion into the home.
- HVAC system: As a general rule, you should plan on having your HVAC system professionally inspected and serviced at least once or twice a year. As for service timing, the months just before summer may be a great time. Technicians will typically conduct a tune up and any preventative maintenance while also clearing out any condensation lines. Needless to say, you will want to make sure that your air conditioning system is performing optimally during the summer months in South Florida.
- Insulation: Insulation is an area that is often overlooked in the home. Although every home is different, residential insulation should usually be replaced at least once every few decades. In older homes, it is typically easier to have more blown-in insulation applied. For a cleaner and more modern attic, open-cell or closed-cell foam insulation may also be applied in the attic ceiling. Of course if you opt for this type of insulation, you may need to vacate the property for a few days due to the toxic fumes given off during installation.
- Windows: It may go without saying, however older windows are notoriously inefficient and may allow a lot of heat transfer to take place. Although high-impact windows are more commonly installed throughout South Florida now, even newer non-impact windows will improve overall efficiency in the home.
- Hurricane protection: We could not write an article about summer home preparation in South Florida without highlighting the importance of hurricane preparedness. If your home does not already have high-impact windows and doors, now is a good time to check and organize your hurricane shutter inventory. As a best practice, we recommend going through a dry run with your shutters and properly labeling them in order to aid you with any potential installations in the coming months.
Summary
The summer in South Florida is an excellent time to enjoy the beaches and fun in the sun. With this said, it is also important to be prepared so that you can maximize your enjoyment. For example, with many HVAS systems failing during the peak heat, it may take a few days to have a technician repair a unit. Oftentimes, many of these issues could have been avoided with some simple preventative maintenance. The spring months are an excellent time of the year to have your HVAC system serviced to avoid any future issues. Equally important is to have your hurricane preparedness plan in place. The weather can change in a hurry in South Florida and a little preparation can go a long ways.
Are you looking to buy or sell property in South Florida? Do you simply have questions about the market? We can help. Contact Live South Florida Realty, Inc. today!
