Summer Tips Archives - Bruzzese Home Improvements

Six Ways To Get Your Home Ready For Summer

March 25, 2022April 14, 2023Bruzzese Home ImprovementsHome Maintenance, Summer Tipshome maintenance, summerLeave a comment

Summer is fast approaching – the days are getting longer, and the temperature is getting hotter. People are excited to dress up in seasonal wear and hit the beach to get toned and tanned. While people are shaping up their bodies for the season, they shouldn’t forget to prepare their houses for the summer heat.

With summer just around the corner, the house needs maintenance and updates to continue functioning in the new season. Starting preparations early on can help people save big on energy bills, safeguard their place, and significantly improve their living experience. Here are a few things families can start doing today to get their home summer-ready to enjoy the season to its fullest:

1. Clear extra stuff from the house

How can someone be okay if their house is a mess? To fully prepare for a new season, people must bid farewell to last season’s things and belongings. People must pack up all blankets, rugs, warm clothes, heaters, and other items crowding the place. Storing them in the house will make the space look unorganized and cluttered.

It’s best to explore nearby storage rentals to start stashing your winter belongings and unneeded items. A quick search on the internet can help. For example, homeowners in Greater Houston can run a customized search query for ‘storage Houston near me’ to identify good options. Repeat the same for any US city or county you live in. Doing so will help clean the house.

2. Clean gutters and drains

Before stepping into a new season, it’s best to unclog all gutters and drains. During the winter and fall, leaves and mud accumulate in the drainage system. The debris piles up until it clogs the drains, causing several leaks in the walls and the roof. People must acknowledge this obstruction and clean it before it causes severe water damage all over the house. Ignoring this problem will only result in excessive build-up and house damage in the future. It’s also good to check the trenches and underground pipes to ensure they drain water away from the house and not push it back into the property.

3. Spruce up the yard and garden

Summer is all about nature – trees, plants, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and more. Individuals must hire gardeners to tidy up their yards by cutting or curing the rotten plantation and planting more flowers and greens around the property. People interested in creating a fruit and vegetable garden must plant the seeds of their desired crop and prepare the soil to give the yield time to grow. Lush gardens require effort and the start of the summer season is the right time to work for it.

4. Decorate the interior and exterior

Winter coziness is now ending, and the summer airiness is beginning. It calls for a complete up-gradation of the house’s interior and exterior structure. People can refresh the inside of their homes by switching dull dark curtains with light ones, adding indoor plants, changing furniture setting to create more space, touching up the floor, etc. A fresh coat of paint can also never go wrong. Welcome the summer vibe by painting the house’s interior and exterior in bright pastel colors that reflect more light, making the house look spacious and cooler.

5. Insulate the doors and windows

Insulating the right areas around the house can keep cool air inside and annoying bugs and insects outside. Windows and doors are the ideal insulation points as air and creepy crawlies escape and enter massively from these locations. People are advised to invest in high-quality insulation that works well during the summer months. It will also help homeowners save energy as HAVC systems won’t have to work harder to cool the space because of poor insulation.

6. Prepare the air conditioner

The first scorching day of summer creeps into people’s lives slowly and unveils itself suddenly. People don’t get time to prepare to deal with the heat until it makes its presence felt. Therefore, people must always anticipate the worst and get their ACs checked before time. This way, they have their filter changed, system in working order, and everything settled before the warm weather develops into endless sweating. Moreover, people escape the torture of getting their appliances fixed in the peak summer season when the prices are too high and workers are unavailable.

Conclusion

Preparing the house for summer sounds like a bothersome and tedious task, but it is incredibly therapeutic and can help save a lot of money needed to fix avoidable damage in the future. Moreover, it’s great to be prepared to enjoy the new season in full swing. Stop delaying summer season preps and get hustling to make the most of the time you have before the heat hits hard.

Last Minute Repairs: 4 Home Improvements that are Better to Make in the Summer

September 3, 2019September 3, 2019Bruzzese Home Improvementshome improvement, Summer Tipshome improvement, home maintenance, summerLeave a comment

The summer season is almost over. Procrastination has probably gotten the best of you, but you still have time to catch up with a few last-minute repairs. Weather-wise, summer is the perfect time for both outdoor and indoor home projects. You might want to focus on a few home improvements before winter knocks again. Warmer and more reliable weather with kids at home means you can manage tasks easily, especially if they include painting and staying out. Let’s take a look at four remodels to work on before summer ends.

Roof Repair

Experts recommend bi-annual roof inspections and maintenance. Summer is the ideal season to call in a contractor specializing in residential roofing. Have them inspect for damages and loose shingles on the roof. You might also want to repair simple patches, loose gutters, painting dull roof fittings, and fixing broken pieces on the roof. You could also combine the repairs with roof and gutter cleaning to ensure that you are set for the next year. If the damages are too severe, consider replacing the entire roof.

Upgrade Your Window Treatments

The right window treatments can help you cool or warm your house depending on the season. There’s a wide range of window treatments ranging from black curtains to motorized roller shades. The right window treatments should allow enough sunlight to your house for lighting purposes, which helps you conserve energy. They should also cut down dangerous UV light to keep your home cool. Pick pieces that will improve the general look and feel of your home.

Power Wash Your Home

The dry days are almost over. You endured the hot afternoons and dusty days. Your home is also a victim of the harsh weather. You might want to give it a power wash to bring back the sparkling effect and improve curb appeal. Consider hiring professional cleaners to help with the driveway, siding, and deck. You could also allow them to deep clean your home’s interior.

Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

The summer seasons tags along with some expensive energy bills mostly from heating and cooling systems. You could upgrade your thermostat into a programmable unit that automatically turns itself off when temperatures are cool and save some energy costs.

Take advantage of the time and conducive environment to make these four major home improvements. You don’t want a leaking roof in the middle of a rainy night during the coming seasons.

Tips To Stay Comfortable If Your HVAC System Goes Down

September 9, 2017adminDIY Projects, Summer Tips, Winter TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, hvac, summer, winterLeave a comment

With more than 80 percent of American homes having some kind of air conditioning or heating system installed, it’s easy to take that technology for granted. However, these systems don’t always function the way we expect. In those situations, we have to cope with the climate the way our ancestors did, in the days before these modern conveniences existed.

Coping without heating or air conditioning is an inconvenience no one wants to deal with, but it’s something everyone needs to be able to do. Fortunately, staying comfortable, even without your HVAC system, is a matter of following some relatively simple guidelines. With these tricks in mind, you can keep from feeling too hot or too cold, even if your HVAC system is on the blink for more than a day.

For example, keeping cool in the summer without air conditioning means dressing for the weather, drinking plenty of cold water, and avoiding the use of heat-generating appliances — unless necessary. For additional cooling, you can take a lukewarm bath or shower before bed, or stay in your basement during the hottest hours of the day.

Staying warm without your furnace is possible if you stick to only a few rooms and block the doors to the unused rooms with heavy curtains or blankets. Dressing in layers of warm wool clothing and blocking drafts under doors with rolled-up towels and blankets also helps you stay comfortable even when it’s cold inside your house.

Modern conveniences such as HVAC systems have certainly made life easier. However, knowing how to live without them will make life easier for those brief periods when they aren’t working. Or, you might want to live without them voluntarily to save a little money on your energy bills. Either way, these tips can help you stay comfortable without your HVAC system.

Tips to stay comfortable if your HVAC system goes down from Randazzo Heating & Cooling

Factors To Consider During The Air Conditioning Installation And Maintenance Services

July 12, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, Home Maintenance, Summer Tipsenergy efficient, home improvement, home maintenance, summerLeave a comment

Air conditioning installation and maintenance is a service provided in order to facilitate proper installation of an air conditioner unit. In order to ensure that it provides you the guaranteed improved and quality air with optimal and ideal energy usage. The installation of a unit varies according to the different types of AC units available. Selection of an AC unit depends on different parameters such as the space to be cooled and the total amount of heat generated within the enclosed surface. Based on the above-mentioned criteria, the AC units are classified as:

Window Air Conditioner
Split Air Conditioner
Packaged Air Conditioner
Central Air Conditioning System

The primary factors to consider during the installation and maintenance services of air-conditioning, which affect the performance of an AC unit, are:

Correctly sized
Sufficient airflow operation
Appropriate amount of refrigerant
Tightly sealed ductwork

The proper installation and maintenance service of an air conditioner unit helps you obtain the optimal comfort. There are many firms, who are rich in industrial expertise provide high quality air conditioning installation and maintenance services. The air conditioning installation process comprises of different steps such as:

1. Indoor Unit Location

The positioning of the air conditioner plays a pivot role in its installation and working. The air conditioner front vents shall not be obscured in any way that may cause hindrances in good air circulation. In addition, an AC unit should be always away from any doorways or any pipes.

2. Outdoor Unit

With regards to outdoor units, there shall be enough of space around it and shall always be installed in a flat and secure surface. If the air conditioning unit installation is done on a roof, it needs to be fastened on a wood to prevent it from being blown by the high wind.

3. Water Drainpipe

In the case of an indoor unit, make sure the water pipe is at the end of the tray and rubber bung is at the hole on opposite side. The drainpipe should be angled at a good distance from the location, as water drainage would be much more during extreme summer.

4. Pipe Connection

While connecting the pipe to the unit, do not over tight them and they need to be covered with a foam insulation to prevent from any refrigerant leaking.

Purpose of Maintenance Service of an Air Conditioner is:

Control bacterial growth in cooling water systems.
Avoid scaling and corrosion of pipelines that come in contact with the circulating water in an AC unit.
Maintain perfectly cleaned and sanitized drain pans to prevent stagnant water.
Prevent increased consumption of energy source due to corrosion products and deposits within the compressors.

Furthermore, regular maintenance of an AC unit is important for proper functioning of the unit at its top efficacy. Routine air conditioner maintenance helps to avoid any major breakdowns in the future and perfect functioning throughout the changing seasons to come.

For efficient operation, the unit shall be maintained effectively and efficiently throughout its usage. The negligence of necessary maintenance can cause a steady decline in the performance of the unit with a steady rise in energy consumption. The primary objective of maintenance is to mitigate the consequences of a failure of the unit.

Important Steps in Air Conditioner Maintenance Service are:

Routine cleaning and replacement, if needed, of air conditioner filters, coils, and fins. Clogged filters prevent good airflow. Unclean coils reduce the unit’s ability to absorb heat and the condenser coils bent easily, which needs to be replaced to avoid blocking of airflow.

Clear clogged drain channels – as they prevent the air conditioners from lowering the humidity levels.
Correct checking of the amount of refrigerant.
Checking the thermostat accuracy.
Measuring airflow in the evaporator coils.

Thus, proper care ensures the efficacy of your air conditioner.

Yard Transformation: 3 Trendy Essentials For The Ultimate Backyard Bash

July 10, 2017adminEntertaining, Home Improvement Tips, Summer TipsDIY projects, home trends, Outdoor Living, summerLeave a comment

When you have a party for your family and friends, there are a few things that you want to make sure that you have to offer. These essentials include food that your guests will enjoy, decorations to add a bit of style and color to the event and even a few games that will keep the party rolling along. Before the day of the party, you need to make a list of all of the things that you’re going to need for an ultimate celebration so that you’re prepared when you go shopping and when your guests arrive.

Lighting

Your guests will need to be able to see while they are outside. There are a few options when thinking about the lighting. You could use citronella candles that will provide ambient light and that will keep pests away. Commercial lights are also an idea as they are often brighter than a typical light source. You can hang the lights along the edges of a tent that you put on the back porch or a tent that you put in the center of the yard along with tables and chairs. Solar lights are another option. They can charge during the day, lighting up at night so that you don’t have to worry about using electricity.

Just Keep Swimming

One of the fun things that you can offer to your guests is a place to swim or at least a place to enjoy some kind of water. An above-ground pool is an idea, and it will provide hours of entertainment for the family even after the party. You can also install a hot tub in the backyard for guests to enjoy. Work with professionals, like those at The Hot Tub Store, to ensure you pick out the best hot tub for your needs and home. Add a few candles that float on the water and music to create a relaxing and fun environment for your backyard bash.

Something To Watch

Give guests a way to watch movies with a projector that is set up on a table that displays on the side of the house or a large screen that you set up outside. If you don’t have a screen, then use large pieces of white paper that are secured to a flat surface outside. You can have a movie night with snacks and comfortable seating.

Your backyard bash should be an event that is remembered for the rest of the year. Make sure there is plenty of entertainment and food to enjoy. Try to offer something that you normally don’t see at events in the neighborhood so that your event stands out.

How to Give a Boring Deck More Dimension

July 5, 2017adminDecks & Patios, Summer Activities, Summer Tipsdeck, home improvement, Outdoor Living, patio, summerLeave a comment

For many people, grill-out season is finally here. We all enjoy long summer evenings, eating family dinners, having friends over, and socializing outdoors. It’s not as fun when you look outside and realize that your deck is boring. Maybe the wood is looking a little dingy, or there just isn’t much to look at period. You don’t have to settle for a boring deck where only the grill is relegated to. Here are five ways you can give a boring deck more dimension and entice your guests outdoors.

Paint or Stain in Two Tones

Painting or staining your deck in more than one shade is a great way to add dimension to your family and party area. If the wood is looking a little weather-worn, now might be a great time to add some pizazz to the overall color. Try painting or staining the floorboards in one color but the railing in a contrasting shade. Get creative with it and remember to prime and waterproof.

Add Some Outdoor Plants

You can spice up the look of your deck by adding some plants. Flowering plants can give a beautiful touch of color to small spaces. Or, you could consider having a potted garden. Many herbs, tomatoes, and some peppers can be grown in pots which you can then use in your cooking. Fresh, homegrown tomatoes have the best flavor and taste great on burgers. Their beautiful colors will also liven up your deck.

Consider Updating Your Furniture

Fading deck furniture always looks drab. Consider purchasing a new set. Or, if you aren’t ready to commit to that purchase, spray-painting metal, plastic, or wicker chairs and tables can bring new life to the furniture you already have. If the cushions are looking worn and faded you can either recover them if you have some sewing skills or you can purchase new ones. Add touches of color with the cushions and include decorative details with pillows, throw blankets, or table centerpieces.

Add Evening Atmosphere Lighting

At night we all enjoy looking at the stars but if you are having a party a little bit of lighting is a great way of giving your deck a bit of ambiance. Paper lanterns can add a fun vibe. Another great alternative is string lights. Or, if you would like something more permanent consider inset lights or strip lights placed under the floorboards which will also ensure that no one trips as they climb the stairs. Insect repellent candles can give you some protection as well as added lighting and ambiance.

Keep Your Lawn Manicured

We’re talking about decks, but many have stairways that lead into the backyard or at very least, overlook the backyard. By keeping the lawn and yard well-maintained you will have a more inviting view that will give your deck more dimension. Put up yard games like croquet, badminton, or horseshoes for the kids. Be sure to mow or have a lawn care service come and cut the grass before any event.

Your deck doesn’t have to be boring. With just a few easy changes you can have a deck that you, your friends, and your family will enjoy all summer long.

Sweltering Heat: How to Troubleshoot HVAC Problems

July 2, 2017adminEnergy Efficiency, Home Maintenance, Summer Tipsenergy efficient, home improvement, home maintenance, hvacLeave a comment

There is almost nothing worse than sitting in a hot house in the middle of summer without air conditioning. If you suspect that there’s something wrong with your HVAC unit, it’s best to investigate the issue as soon as possible so that you’re not left sitting in the heat. After troubleshooting your issue, you might need to seek the assistance of a professional to get the problem fixed.

Power Supply

The first thing that you should check is the power supply to the unit. Sometimes, the circuit breaker can get tripped or a cord can get disconnected. This is often a simple fix and the least expensive of the issues that could be wrong with the HVAC unit. Try turning the breaker off for a few seconds before turning it back on to see if the unit will respond. You should also look at the fuses for the unit to see if any of them are bad.

Adjusting the Thermostat

To check the thermostat, set the unit to cool. Turn the setting to where it’s about three degrees below the temperature in the room. The unit should come on with cool air blowing from the vents. If no air can be felt, then you may be looking at an issue with the thermostat as it won’t pick up on the temperature in the room to make the unit come on at the right time.

Check the Coils and Wires

This can be a detailed venture, but you need to know if the coils are still working as they should. The cover of the unit will likely need to be removed. After scanning the coils and electrical components, take note to see if any are burnt or damaged. A company such as Edge Guys HVAC can send professionals to the home to replace the parts that are impacting the unit or replace the entire unit if the parts can’t be repaired or replaced.

Proper Ventilation

Check the vents in the home as well as the ventilation system. There shouldn’t be anything blocking the flow of air from the unit to the inside of the home. Check to see if the fan is on or if the unit is set to auto. If the fan is on, then it will run for a longer period of time. Clean the vents and the rest of the system to remove dirt and debris that collects over the winter months.

Troubleshooting your HVAC unit can take a few minutes or a few hours, but the result should mean cold air in the home. While some tasks can be completed yourself, there are repairs that might require the help of a professional. Once the unit is repaired and you have air flowing, it’s important to maintain the unit so that there aren’t any issues in the future.

Guest Post By:

Anica Oaks.

Freelance writer and web enthusiast
Read some of my published work on my Google+ page.

3 Bright Color Palettes To Consider For Your Home This Summer

June 30, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, interior painting, Summer Tipsdecorating, home improvement, home trends, painting, summerLeave a comment

Paint manufactures and houseware companies offer homeowners new colors and ideas each year, and 2017 is a banner year for their home design ideas. These companies offer a number of new color palettes that provide a bright new look for home interiors that reflect the current needs of consumers. Browse the selection at local establishments such as Koontz Hardware, to find new options like these color palettes that are making a splash in interior design this year.

1 – A Blend of Calming Colors For Your Forest Bath
The idea of the “forest bath” is based on a Japanese practice of spending extended time in a wooded environment to reduce stress and refresh the spirit. Recently, the principle has received scientific support from a study from Stanford University. You can create this same serene environment in your home with the use of a combination of greens and blue-greens, set off with more pronounced tones, such as Grape Kiss or Acid Lime.

2 – Rely On Black & White, With A Pop Of Color
Black-and-white is a classic look that suits many modern and contemporary designs. The stark contrast of the two tones have been a staple of interior design since the 1940s, and more recently, has been combined with bright chrome and other metallic shades. This year, the look is being combined with a pop of bold color. Try one of the new shades of bold color, such as Opaline Green, Orange Popsicle or Prism Pink. The addition of bright color introduces an optimistic and vivid aspect into the traditional black-and-white background.

3 – Celebrate The Novelty Of Unexpected Combinations
Some of the new color palettes invite you to develop an acquired taste for unexpected combinations that challenge old decorating concepts. The juxtaposition of vibrant colors with a background of quieter tones may not be something you’re accustomed to, but it can provide a fresh and updated look for your home. Colors like Mulberry, Orange Chiffon and Brandied Melon can be a surprising match with pale gold or muted pink. The look may inspire you to try a few new combinations of your own.

If you’re in the market for paints and products for re-decorating your home, take some time to research the current trends. You may be surprised at the vast number of color choices that are now available. Some of the new color palettes are so innovative they take some getting used to, to train the eye to accept a whole new look. Other palettes are reminiscent of older trends that consumers know and have loved for decades. Sample these new offerings to your heart’s desire, experimenting with new color combinations and contrasting tones, to update the look of your home.

Seasonal Renovation: 4 Home Upgrades Better Done In Summer

June 26, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, Summer Tipshome improvement, home renovation, renovations, summerLeave a comment

The impulse to do home upgrades can strike at any time. Some upgrades you can do any time you want. Carpet replacement is not season-dependent. As long as you use low-VOC, water-based acrylic paint, you can do interior painting year round. There are, however, some upgrades that will go off much better in the summer.

Deck Building or Repair

Decks are a functional way to extend your home’s summertime living space. Installing or repairing a deck is a summertime job. Deck installations require holes in the ground for the corner posts. No one wants to dig holes in the frozen soil. Repairs often require you to do some staining and sealing. Stains and sealants almost always need to be applied at temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Replace Doors and Windows

New doors or new windows can help shore up your home’s environmental envelope and temperature control. While they can be replaced at any time, in theory, having gaping holes in your walls during the winter isn’t a great play. Summer replacements make temperature control substantially easier and cheaper if you can tolerate some extra heat in the house. Plus, it’s not a crisis if all the finishing touches don’t get finished until the next day. For extra convenience, get a company like Gilkey Windows to come out so the job gets done quicker and easier than doing it yourself.

Refinishing Floors

Much as with deck stains, the varnishes used to refinish floors work best above the 50 degrees mark. Oil-based varnish fumes are potentially toxic, but also flammable. Having a furnace on in the winter to keep temperatures over 50 degrees is a potential fire hazard. While not flammable, water-based varnishes have a substantial odor. You’ll want to be able to throw open the windows to air out the house, which simply isn’t practical or cost-effective in the winter cold.

Concrete Repairs

If you have any damaged concrete at your home, such as a walkway, summer is the only practical time to repair it. Winter isn’t an option because the water in the wet concrete will freeze. This interrupts the chemical curing process that hardens the concrete and leaves you with shoddy concrete. Spring and fall are also problematic because rain exposure is a possibility, which also damages the curing process.

Summer is an excellent time for home upgrades, but it’s especially good for exterior projects and projects involving chemicals or strong odors. Door and window replacement also go more smoothly courtesy of more moderate temperatures. Just remember to consult product instructions or a professional any time you’re in doubt.

Creepy Crawlers: How to Eliminate Pests in Your Home This Summer

June 20, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home Maintenance, Summer TipsDIY projects, home maintenance, pest control, summerLeave a comment

The weather is warming up outside, which means that insects and other creepy crawlers will be coming out of hibernation soon. And they are all going to be looking for places to provide them with food, water, and shelter. So houses all over the country will become rapidly infested with them if they aren’t prepared. Luckily, when this happens, there are three ways to eliminate the pests quickly and safely.

Store Food Properly

Proper food storage habits will help keep pests at bay by making the place unappealing to them. All food must be put away in containers that seal shut. And nothing should ever be left out at night that they could snack on. That means, dirty dishes and leftovers all have to be cleaned up before heading to bed.

Keep Things Dry

Most pests can’t endure hot, dry conditions because they need a steady supply of water to drink. So naturally, they tend to congregate around areas that are damp and wet. That is why one of the easiest ways to deter them is to remove as much moisture as possible in the house. This can be done by fixing all of the drips and leaks and removing any sources of water that might be tempting to them. All the sinks in the house should be towel dried in between use. And water dishes for the pets have to be put away at night too.

Remove Trash and Clean

According to Allrid Pest Management, homes with an excess amount of trash and debris make the perfect environment for pests to live in. And the pests will end up spreading to all of the surrounding houses, which perpetuates the problem. That means, even if someone has an immaculate house, they can still end up getting an infestation of pests because they have a dirty neighbor. So the best thing to do in this situation is to report the problematic house to the local authorities to ensure that it gets cleaned up quickly. Then, the neighbors who live in the vicinity need to have their houses treated as well.

Everyone needs to participate in these pest-deterring procedures for them to be effective. That way, the sources of food, water, and shelter are all taken away, which makes the area uninhabitable for the creepy crawlers. But remember, those who already have a severe infestation may need to call in a professional pest control company if these procedures aren’t enough.

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