Intense heat and humidity might be impacting your home.
Heres what you’re free to do to prevent it, according to the experts.
Southerners know how tobrave intense heatand humidity, but can we say the same about our houses?
Credit: Mike Swartz
Unfortunately, Southern summers can take a toll on a home.
As temperatures climb, experts advise Southern homeowners to monitor their home’s condition.
Stay on top of repairs and take protective action as much as possible.
Using the right material for an area is the best protection, he says.
Heres how heat could be impacting your home.
This swelling and shrinking makes the foundation flex up and down.
Extreme heat can leave your shingles dry and brittle by breaking down the material.
Bartel also recommends that homeowners update their attic insulation for a layer of protection.
In many ways, exterior paint can react to the summer sun much the same as a bad sunburn.
High humidity could cause pain to peel, blister, and crack, says electricity executive Mark Feygin.
Moisture in the air can seep into the walls, and that could compromise the adhesion of the paint.
A particular threat to poorly ventilated spaces, McDonald recommends tackling this problem from the outset with a dehumidifier.
Owners will notice this when windows and doors are hard to open and stick shut, he explains.
It can also cause the seals around doors and windows to fail which will reduce their efficiency.
This is typically seen when a window pane looks foggy.
Reapply caulk seasonally to properly seal your doors and windows and give them the best shot.
To protect your gorgeous floors, use adehumidifierto maintain consistent humidity levels in your home.
McDonald recommends staying between 35% and 55% humidity and using minimal water for cleaning the floor.
Tile Might Crack
Tile floors,showers, andbacksplashesare also under siege in the summertime.
Like wood, some tile materials can swell in the heat and humidity, absorbing water and expanding slightly.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are particularly prone to this.
This may lead to tiles cracking or buckling under the pressure.
Regularly reseal and maintain the grout to best avoid the costly task of having to replace cracked tiles.
Electricity Can Become Overwhelmed and Expensive
Summertime isHVACs time to shine, and the pressure is high.
Heat and humidity could reduce the effectiveness of your insulation, Feygin reveals.
That’s why your energy bills are going to go higher when its hot.
If you ever notice dripping from electrical outlets during the summer, heat and humidity are likely the culprits.
