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With winter out of the way and summer rapidly approaching, you’re probably ready to pull out your swimsuit and start planning an amazing summer. But before you do that, it’s important to get your home ready for the summer. Not sure how to get your home ready for summer? Tropicana Homes is here to help! We’ve put together this handy checklist to help keep energy costs low, prevent costly repairs, and keep your home looking stylish all season.

Tropicana Homes’ Ready for Summer Checklist

Getting your home ready for summer involves more than just breaking out the patio umbrella and laying out lawn chairs. Here are some tips that will help all homeowners, whether you’re an experienced home buyer or a new buyer living in one of our eleven communities through El Paso, Horizon, Socorro, and Clint.

Bug-Proof Your Home

Summer in El Paso is amazing. Don’t let pesky bugs ruin it. When preparing your home for summer, take a few extra steps to protect your home from insect invaders. Check out your windows and doors for any gaps or cracks, and make sure to seal them. You may also want to consult with a pest control expert and have your home fumigated with insecticide. If you don’t want to hire a professional, there are many cheap pest control products for purchase.

Get Your Air Conditioner Up and Running

Summers in El Paso get hot, so one of the first things you should do is make sure your air conditioner is in great working condition. If your air conditioner isn’t working properly, reach out to an HVAC professional who can inspect your unit for leaks or defects, and then repair it. And while you’re at it, you may want to consider installing a smart thermostat, which can help you cut down on cooling costs and save energy. Here are a few thing you should look at when preparing your ventilating and air conditioning:

• Replace the air filter in your furnace/AC for maximum efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
• Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order (replace batteries if necessary).
• Program thermostat to save on cooling costs. Raise temperature 1 degree for every hour you’re gone, up to 5 degrees (never turn your air conditioner off!).
• Make sure fans are switched to proper or counter-clockwise position, which will force room air down to give a wind chill effect.
• Flash hot water tanks to remove sediment, and check the pressure relief valve to make sure it’s in proper working order. Lower temperature to save on energy and accommodate hot summer conditions.
• Examine exposed ducts in the attic and crawl spaces, and use a sealant to plug any leaks.
• Remove lint from dryer exhaust vent with long flexible brush.

Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space

With the weather warming up, it’s time to take care of your lawn, garden, and deck areas. Here are some to-dos from our summer home checklist that will get your home summer ready.

• Trim any overgrown branches back from the house and electrical wires to prevent wind-swept branches and causing property damage or a power problem.
• Ensure rain drains away from the house to avoid foundation problems. The dirt grade — around the exterior of your home — should slope away from the house. Add extra dirt if necessary
• Inspect your deck or balcony for splintering and treat, if needed, to prevent further deterioration over the winter
• Make sure your exterior handrails are well secured
• Inspect your outdoor lighting We also suggest you spruce up your flower beds by removing weeds and redefining bed edges with a spade. And while you’re at it why not fill in your grass and plant some beautiful and fragrant flowers to make sure your home looks even more beautiful.

Check Windows, Doors & Exteriors

Do you want to keep your home cool, prevent leaks, and keep the exterior of your home in tip-top shape? Here are some things to do:

• Check for missing, damaged or warped shingles and replace as necessary to prevent leaks.
• Reseal all seals around pipes, skylights, and penetrations in your roof with a roofing cement and caulking gun to prevent future leaks that can be cause from materials freezing.
• Check for deteriorated flashing at the chimney, walls, skylights, and around vent pipes. Seal joints where water could penetrate, using roofing cement and a caulking gun.
• Ensure all vents, eaves, and openings are covered to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from nesting.
• Clean leaves and debris from courtyard and any exterior rock wall drains to prevent blockages.
• Check the weather-stripping around your door-frames and windows for leaks to prevent cool air loss, and replace if needed
• Examine window frames and all exterior wood materials; stucco and mortar for signs of deterioration. Repair, replace, re-caulk or repaint to maintain integrity and appearance.
• Check for drafts around doors and windows. Caulk inside and out, where necessary, to keep cool air from escaping.
• Inspect your windows for cracks, gaps, or broken glass, and repair or replace if needed
• Keep your shades closed during the middle of the day to minimize heat from sunlight These simple steps will keep your Tropicana Home in pristine condition all summer season.

Tropicana Home’s Ready for Summer Checklist: Final Thoughts

“I’m looking forward to spending some quality time outside with my family this summer. Home owner maintenance is vital as our rainy season approaches. As the temperature fluctuates, hairline cracks will form in the tar around your roof penetrations and in the caulking of your doors and windows. I will also be showing my family how to prepare our house by sealing all of our exterior penetrations, especially our roof penetrations.  Much like a car, proper maintenance of a house will ensure greater value!” - *Randy Bowling, President *

Summer’s a wonderful time of year. Don’t spoil it by not prepping your home for the season. By summer-prepping your home, you can have time to enjoy Tropicana Home’s amazing amenities like community parks, sand volleyball courts, and easy access to parks and trails.

Are you looking to live in an exciting new community? Contact us at www.tropicanahomes.com to learn all about Tropicana Home’s communities. And click here to print out our Summer Home Checklist.