Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA and D.C. with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or Laura@GuidingYourMove.com.
This heat wave is hard on our houses, just like it’s hard on our bodies. It’s important to be mindful of home maintenance during this time.
We’ve lost power already this summer and I’m sure it’ll happen again, so please keep these tips in mind to care for your home:
1. Check your trees! Limbs have been falling on wires, on the street and on homes. The excessive heat and storms are powerful and can cause so much damage. Have an arborist come look at a tree if you’re worried about it, or if it’s leaning, consider the health of the tree and whether to remove it. If it’s dead, definitely remove it. I’ve personally used JL Tree Service in the past with success.
2. Make sure you have batteries and flashlights. The power goes out at the most inconvenient times, right? We lost power just as my kids were going to bed and we didn’t have enough batteries to power their clocks, their sound machines, plus a flashlight as a night light and you know how much you want your kids to just go to bed right? Batteries will help.
3. Check your HVAC units. Especially those in the attic. If the insulation isn’t properly working on your ducts, it can cause condensation, which will cause mold eventually if the water drips on drywall or plywood. If there’s any water in your drip pan, it could also indicate there’s an issue which you’ll want to address before it gets worse. I’d also recommend having them serviced and also ask them to check for clogs in the condensation line.
4. Clear gutters if you haven’t yet. Fast and hard rain will wreak havoc on your gutters if they’re sitting full of leaves you never cleaned out.
5. On super hot days, close your blinds in rooms you’re not in. It’ll help keep it cooler and help your A/C.
Don’t forget water in the hose will be hot when you first spray it. Trex decks will be hot to the touch. Door handles will burn your hand if they’re in direct sunlight, and cars will be very hot if they’re outside.
Protect yourself and your investments from this heat!
Don’t forget you can always download my free preferred vendor guide.
