Hot weather, changing humidity, and increased water needs can cause problems in your home. To get your house ready for summer, it’s important to take care of maintenance and make any necessary repairs to your heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing systems. Discover some simple tips on how to prepare your home for the season from the experts at M.E. Flow Inc.
Common Summer Plumbing Problems—Don’t Blame the Heat
Homeowners often face more plumbing problems during the summer. While warm temperatures don’t directly affect your plumbing system, increased water usage sure can! Increased water demand can highlight existing issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Problems such as leaky faucets, partially clogged drains, and old, damaged pipes become more apparent—and are more likely to fail—as water usage rises. And with activities like watering the lawn, gardening, and using pools, between30% and 70% of summer water use is outdoors.
The most common plumbing issues during the summer are:
- Leaks
- Sprinkler system failure
- Sewer line damage (usually from tree roots)
Common Summer HVAC Problems
As temperatures rise, we use air conditioning more. Once you switch from heating to cooling your home, your air conditioning system plays a crucial role in maintaining your comfort and overall well-being. With higher outdoor temperatures, your AC unit or heat pump runs longer and more frequently to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
This added strain can cause various summer HVAC problems, including:
- Refrigerant leaks
- Dirty condenser coils
- Blocked condensate drains
- AC failure
These summer home AC problems can lead to reduced cooling capacity, higher energy bills, and emergency repairs. As many regions of the country experience longer, hotter summers, more Americans are relying on their AC units more frequently. Older systems are particularly susceptible to breakdowns in the heat.
Read more: Save Money With These Energy Efficiency Tips
Common Electrical Problems in the Summer
Air conditioning units, heat pumps, and even your home’s ceiling fan are often powered by your home’s electrical system. That means summer heat can put additional strain on circuits, causing annoying tripped circuits, overheated outlets, and other problems.
Summer Power Surges
While power surges can occur in any season, they’re significantly more common during summer thunderstorms. Lightning strikes may cause power surges, damaging sensitive electronics like appliances, computers, and televisions. With frequent and strong storms in our area, we recommend preparing for power outages in the summer by installing whole-home surge protectors to safeguard your favorite devices.
Summer Power Outages
Why do power outages happen in summer? Often these are due to the violent, windy storms that summer days can bring. And while summer power outages are inconvenient, they are also potentially costly. When power is restored, many grids spike in voltage to levels that are not much lower than those of a lightning strike. When preparing for a power outage in the summer months, be sure to unplug sensitive electronics to prevent them from being exposed to a power surge. It’s usually best to leave a single light on so you know when power is restored.
There’s No Place Like Leesburg in Peak Summer
Make the most of summer with professional home services from M.E. Flow Inc. Our trained technicians will inspect your home’s system and make reliable recommendations to prevent damage and prolong the functional lifespan of your equipment. Enjoy a safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient summer with no unexpected problems!
Call 571-350-3183 or contact us onlineto schedule HVAC, electrical, or plumbing services in Leesburg, Lorton, Alexandria, and the surrounding areas.