With summer just around the corner, it’s time to get your home ready for the warmer weather. Get on top of these jobs and you’ll be able to enjoy a carefree summer at home.

Service you Air Conditioning

To ensure your air conditioning is ready for those hot days, it should be serviced before summer kicks in. Regular servicing can help prevent a breakdown on a scorcher of a day while also extending the life of your AC system. You’re also better off having your air con looked at before summer, as demand for AC repair and maintenance will be higher once the hot weather arrives.

As part of this service, the filters should also be cleaned of dust and other harmful particles. Doing so will improve your home’s air quality and avoid irritating any allergies you may have.

Clean Fans

Along with removing dust from your air conditioning unit, make sure to give your fans a thorough dusting too. Dust quickly collects on both ceiling and pedestal fans, just waiting to fly off when you turn them on for that first hot day.

Replace or update Insulation

If your home isn’t a new build, it may be time to replace your home insulation. This should be done every 15 years or so to ensure your home is effectively insulated from outside temperatures.

Of course, you can also update your insulation whenever you want. With advancements in thermal efficiency and sustainability, there may be a house insulation available that is both more environmentally friendly and effective than what is currently in your home. Do your research to see what options are available to you.

Switch Dark Decor for Lighter Alternatives

It may sound strange, but switching dark décor for lighter colours does more than change the look of your home. Dark colours absorb heat while lighter colours reflect it. So by swapping heavy dark curtains for light white blinds, for instance, you can reduce the heat gain of your home. This can mean you need to use your air conditioning less over the summer.

Seal Gaps around Windows and Doors

When you do use air conditioning, it’s important to ensure you aren’t losing the cool air through gaps around your windows and doors. Seal any gaps around your windows using window putty or sealant. You may also want to buy a few door snakes to block the draughts from under your doors.

Repair Fly Screens

Unfortunately, summer is a prime breeding season for a variety of irritating insects, including mosquitoes and flies. Fix any ripped or loose fly screens before summer starts to keep these pests out of your home.

Cut back Trees and Bushes

Get your garden ready by trimming and cutting back trees and branches. Not only does this mean your garden will look great for any outdoor parties you throw over the season, but it also gets it ready for extreme weather events.

The Australian summer is punctuated with bushfires and thunderstorms. By ensuring trees do not have branches that hang over the house and bushes do not touch your home, you minimise risk to your home in these events. For instance, branches can be broken off in strong winds and crash through your roof.

Clean Gutters

Another way you can prepare your home for extreme summer weather events is to clean your gutters. If your gutters are full of leaves and debris, they cannot properly channel water during heavy rains (particularly important for those in tropical regions). Any leaves in your gutters also pose a significant fire risk during bushfire season.

• Correct Pool pH Level

Finally, if you have a pool, now’s the time to get it ready for swimming. Over the winter, it’s likely the pH level has become unbalanced, which can lead to water discolouration and algae growth.

To get your pH level back to that happy sweet spot between 7.2 and 7.8, take a sample of the water to your local pool shop. They can tell you the current pH level and recommend what chemicals you need to balance it out.

Take the time now to get your home ready for summer so you can enjoy those warmer days in peace. Follow the tips above and your home will be ready in no time.