Summer is a time to have fun in the sun – this includes visiting the pool, spending time with friends and sipping cold drinks.
But there’s another list of summer activities to think about when you own a home, such as keeping your utility bills low, cleaning the gutters and ensuring your thermostats are working efficiently.
Luckily, with a Starlight Home, these things don’t have to take away from your summer relaxation. If anything, knowing your home is well taken care of will help you enjoy these next few months even more. Here are a few ideas to help prepare your home for the hotter months so you can keep your cool all summer long.
Create an Outdoor Game Plan
Love gardening? A creative and efficient way to help block the sun from your home is by strategically planting shrubbery and trees in front of windows. Natural light will still shine through while providing extra shade on those sunny days when even the blinds aren’t enough. You can accent them with groups of smaller colorful flowers to add even more personality to your space.The next step in prepping your yard is setting up summer decorations. This can be as simple as a hanging new wreath or buying a welcoming doormat. You can add stone figurines by the front door and decorate them with seasonal sunglasses for some fun.
You can also keep a kiddie pool in the backyard all summer-long so that splash time is never too far away. There’s a never-ending list of ideas for warm-weather decor. Choose what makes you smile.
If you have outdoor furniture, remove it from storage and clean it thoroughly. Whether you’re going to throw removable linens into the washing machine or spray everything down with a water hose, you can get rid of the spiderwebs leftover from the fall and make way for new memories to be made this summer.
Lastly, while there’s nothing more relaxing than a summer rainshower, you might want to prepare your gutters for storms by clearing any leaves or debris that may be causing a back up.
To clean them yourself, grab a ladder, bucket, gloves and a gutter scoop (or garden trowel) and move everything from the gutter to the bucket. Afterwards, you can bask in the satisfaction of a well-kept home.
Personalize Your Air
The thermostats in your Starlight Home are programmable, meaning you can set them up according to your schedule and needs. When your home reaches your desired temperature, the system will turn off automatically. You don’t have to change the settings every night before bed or every morning when you wake up. It does all the work for you, creating energy efficiency when it’s needed most.If you’re hot or cold-natured and feel like you’re constantly turning the air conditioning on and off, you can also invest in a floor fan. Doing this will help save on utility bills and keep you cool at your own pace.
If you live in a dry region, it can be helpful to keep a humidifier around for hot, stuffy days. In a high-moisture environment, a dehumidifier can act as your best friend during these humid and pollen-filled months, especially if you have allergies.
Keep Air Waste to a Minimum
The last thing you want to do in the heat is waste any of your precious air conditioning. Luckily, there are a few ways to be mindful of air maintenance and management.It’s important to check your air filters periodically, replacing or cleaning them every 60 to 90 days. You can keep extra air filters stocked in your house for convenience. They’re easy and quick to change, giving you a simple way to keep costs down and air flowing.
Other easy ways to ensure you’re not wasting any air is to be mindful of doors and windows. When your air conditioning is turned on, be careful to not leave doors open, even when running to grab something from your car.
Leaving windows cracked on mild days can bring in a nice breeze, but try to turn off your air conditioning when doing so. Also consider closing your blinds when you’re not at home so you can have a nice cool welcome upon your return.
Summer is a time for recharge, relaxation and excitement. With these quick tips, you’re sure to get the most out of your Starlight Home this season.
