Summer Home Care: Heat, Humidity and Storm Prep

Say it's the second week of a heat wave. The air conditioner has been running since breakfast, the basement smells a little damp, and the evening forecast now includes thunderstorms with strong wind. For much of the country, that's just July. It is also when small maintenance gaps tend to show up as emergency calls.

Summer home care comes down to three jobs: helping the house shed heat, keeping moisture under control and getting ready for storms before they arrive. None of it is complicated, and most of it takes less time than a trip to the hardware store.

Helping your cooling system keep up

Your air conditioner or heat pump works hardest now, so small problems get louder.

Filter and airflow

A clogged filter chokes airflow, and in summer that can lead to a coil that freezes over, a system that runs constantly and rooms that never quite cool down. Check the filter monthly during heavy use and replace it when it looks gray and packed. Keep supply and return vents clear of furniture, rugs and curtains.

The outdoor unit

The condenser outside needs room to breathe. Keep grass clippings, leaves and shrubs away from it, and rinse the fins gently with a garden hose if the manual allows it. Never use a pressure washer on the fins, and leave refrigerant and electrical work to a licensed HVAC technician. Handling refrigerant generally requires certification, and local licensing rules vary.

Signs it's struggling

Warm air from the vents, ice on the refrigerant lines, water pooling near the indoor unit, short on-and-off cycles, or new rattling and buzzing sounds all deserve a service call. Turning the system off when you see ice gives it a chance to thaw while you wait for help.

Keeping heat out in the first place

The less heat that gets in, the less your system has to remove. Close blinds and curtains on the sunny sides of the house during the afternoon. Check weatherstripping on exterior doors; if you can see daylight around the edges, cool air is leaking out too.

The attic matters more than many people think. Heat builds up there on sunny days and radiates into the rooms below. Make sure soffit vents aren't blocked by insulation or debris, and consider asking a contractor whether your attic ventilation and insulation suit your climate.

Ceiling fans help you feel cooler at a slightly higher thermostat setting, but they cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave. On the hottest days, cooking outside or using a slow cooker keeps extra heat out of the kitchen.

If you water the lawn, early morning is usually the most efficient time, since less water is lost to evaporation before the day heats up. Many towns set watering schedules or restrictions in summer, so check yours.

Humidity: the quieter summer problem

Heat gets the attention, but humidity can do more lasting damage. Damp air feeds mold and mildew, warps wood, attracts insects and makes a house feel warmer than the thermostat says.

Start in the basement or crawlspace. Musty smells, condensation dripping from cold water pipes, and dark spots on walls or stored boxes all point to excess moisture. A dehumidifier helps many basements; empty or drain it regularly and clean its filter. Make sure the clothes dryer vents outside, not into the basement.

Run bathroom exhaust fans during showers and for a while afterward. Use the range hood when you cook. Check that the condensate line from your air conditioner drains freely, since a clog can overflow into ceilings or floors.

Outside, dump standing water from buckets, planters, toys and clogged gutters. Mosquitoes can breed in surprisingly small amounts of water.

Small patches of mildew on hard surfaces are usually a household cleaning job. Mold that covers a large area, keeps coming back or shows up after a leak is worth a professional assessment, especially if anyone in the home has breathing problems.

Storm prep before the forecast turns

Summer storms bring wind, hail, heavy rain and power outages. The time to prepare is on a calm, dry day.

Look up at the trees near your house. Dead branches, limbs hanging over the roof and trees leaning toward the house are worth an arborist's opinion. Any work near power lines belongs to the utility or a qualified line clearance crew, never a homeowner with a pole saw.

Clear gutters and downspouts so heavy rain has somewhere to go. Test the sump pump, and if power outages are common where you live, ask a plumber about a battery backup.

If you own a portable generator, read its manual before you need it. Run it outdoors only, well away from windows, doors and vents, and never in a garage, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide from generators can build up quickly and without any smell. Make sure carbon monoxide detectors are working on every level of the house.

Finally, know where your main water shutoff and main electrical breaker are, and make sure the other adults in the house know too.

A pre-storm checklist

Keep this short list handy for the day a storm watch or warning is announced.

• Bring in or tie down patio furniture, grills, planters and trash cans
• Close and latch windows, doors and any storm shutters
• Charge phones, flashlights and backup batteries
• Check that the sump pump and any backup are ready
• Move cars away from large trees if you can do it safely
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings ahead of a possible outage
• Take quick photos of the house exterior for insurance records
• Keep your insurer's claim number and a trusted local contractor's number somewhere easy to find

After the storm passes

Wait until the storm has fully cleared before going outside. Stay far away from downed power lines and report them to the utility. Don't climb onto the roof to look for damage; walk around the house, use binoculars and take photos instead.

If you find damage, call your insurance company before signing anything with a contractor. After big storms, some people go door to door offering fast repairs and asking for large deposits up front. A trustworthy contractor will give you a written estimate, show proof of licensing and insurance where your state requires it, and won't pressure you to sign on the spot. Licensing rules differ by state and city, so check with your local building department if you're unsure.

More help for every season

Summer is one stretch of the year-round maintenance calendar. HomeIsSecure's homeowner guides walk through fall prep, winterizing and spring checks in the same practical way, so you can plan ahead instead of reacting. Treat this guide as general information, and turn to licensed professionals for anything involving gas, electrical, roof or refrigerant work.