Summer home issues can be just as dangerous and off-putting as any other season, like winter. The hot sun and UV rays can cause immense damage to the house and impact your health. This includes making breathing problems worse, creating high humidity, and damaging the wood in your home. You can prevent a lot of these issues with AC and shading. But you will face some. From problems in the kitchen to ruining indoor space, here are some things to watch for.
Your Home Becomes Too Hot
Of course, one of the most noticeable issues when the sun is roasting your home like marshmallows on a campfire is the heat. When the house is hot in the summer, there are a few things you can try, but even then, it can be hard. AC, fans, and shading will all help. But humidity and intense heat can still be major issues. You may not think so, but a window replacement can help keep your home just as cool in the summer as it keeps the house warm in the winter.
Summer Home Issues in the Kitchen
The kitchen is an integral part of any modern home. In fact, surveys find that more than 50% consider the kitchen a family space. But what does this have to do with summer? Well, many of us enjoy a good old BBQ in the summer, and the kitchen might be used more than usual. This means greasy and fatty foods being cleaned away down the drain and garbage disposal. By virtue of the season, your home’s internal systems can be damaged by the food you eat!
Household Plumbing Problems
Pouring fat and clearing away stubborn foods down the drain will impact your drain health. Other systems in the pipework system can also be affected and extends to the plumbing. If you aren’t careful your plumbing system will have more hiccups than a drunken 50s cartoon mouse! Having parties and BBQs also means the toilets are used more and people might flush things they shouldn’t. Then, there’s the added issue of the heat affecting the efficacy of the pipes.
Summer Storms and Lightning
Storms can be wondrous to behold, and it’s often somewhat calming to watch them from the comfort and safety of the home. However, storms can become scary now and then as they become larger and stronger. All over the world, they seem to be getting more extreme every year. Wind causes untold damage to a home. But lightning especially can cause significant problems. Lightning can impact your home’s electronics, including your Wi-Fi and internet.
Summer Home Issues with the Roof
The roof keeps your home in good working order! It provides insulation, a moisture barrier, and stability. This is why roof maintenance is one of the most important parts of owning a house. So naturally, there are a few reasons why you need to learn how to reduce heat in your house roof:
- More water can come in from summer storms if there are cracks and damage.
- High humidity can cause moss to grow across the roof and inside the small cracks.
- Storms can also bring debris that causes the gutters to become blocked.
- Damage to the roof makes it more attractive to pests that want to nest in there.
- Ventilation and insulation problems can start when the roof is damaged.
- The wind during a storm can throw shingles from the roof and damage other things.
Heat damage can cause immense problems with a home’s roof. Damage from summer storms and immense heat can cause and worsen cracks and loosen shingles. This can cause water damage too. Other issues such as ventilation and insulation can also be compromised.
Cracked and Peeling Paint
One of the most overlooked issues that summer can cause to your home is cracked and peeling paint. Although summer is the most popular time to redecorate, you can have issues with the paint. The heat can make existing problems worse, and peeling paint can be dangerous. Small chips can fall on the ground where children might eat them. Additionally, peeling paint can crumble to dust and cause breathing issues. Pre-1970s paint might contain harmful lead.
Damage to Furniture and Artwork
The sun’s heat and UV rays can be intense all year round. But they are typically more potent in the summer. Intense light coming in can cause heat damage to your furniture and any artwork on the walls. Shading will help, and you can also buy anti-fade products. But the best thing is to keep your possessions out of the sun altogether. This is especially true for things made from natural wood or delicate fabrics. Photographs can also be damaged by the UV sun rays.
Summer Home Issues Indoors
As damaging as the sun can be, it can just be plain irritating. You can kiss goodbye to enjoying your new QLED TV when the sun decides to show its face! And what about comfort? AC is standard in the US, with about 88% of homes having some air conditioning system. But it gets expensive to run all the time, and what about the other 12%? Essentially, the sun can just make living at home uncomfortable and annoying. Shade and cooling systems are your best friend!
Wood Expansion and Contraction
Keeping the house cool in extreme heat with AC is good for comfort. There are also good reasons to monitor the home’s temperature and humidity. This includes respiratory health and even mold issues. However, the wood in your home will also expand when it’s hot and humid and contract when it cools down. This pressure causes damage to wooden joints and even wooden flooring. Over time, it can buckle and become weaker, causing structural problems.
Summary
At the most basic level, plain old heat is one of the most annoying summer home issues. This also causes issues with the roof, comfort, and even wood! The wood in your home will expand and contract when heating and cooling, causing some severe and dangerous issues.
