It’s Summer Time In the Desert
We’re in the desert and it is summer time. That means it is hot and the heat brings on other issues. In the homeowners association there are a host of issues to be concerned about.
Use of water is an issue. Watering landscaping in the day time allows for maximum evaporation – causing less water to provide nutrition to the plants. Water at night whenever possible.
Cost of electricity is higher. This means not only that we should use less, but we need to use the power when it has less of an impact on the utility system, too.
The high heat can cause damage to furnishings. Keep window coverings closed to prevent sun intrusion. Do not use foil or paper on the glass – it looks bad and causes the glass to overheat and break. Set the air conditioner to maintain a moderate temperature of 90-95 degrees. It may cost a bit, but it is necessary to help prevent damage to cabinets and furnishings (art work can suffer real damage).
Roaches find their way into our homes. This can happen any time of year, but it is more prevalent in the summer when homes are unoccupied. The easiest way for roaches to get into the house is through the drain system. In unoccupied homes the “p-trap” in the drain system dries out. The p-trap should have water in it to prevent roaches from getting past it into the home. Have someone check the house and add water to all drains at least monthly, more often in dryer summers.
Plumbing leaks, both in the home and with the irrigation system can be a real problem for unoccupied homes. This can be a huge issue if not caught quickly. Even small water leaks can be a major problem with the possibility of mold growth. Have your house and yard checked frequently so that issues can be caught before major damage results.
Our houses, whether a part time residence or our full time home is a large investment and needs care and maintenance, especially with the high heat in the summer time here in the desert.
{ 0 comments }