The grass is beginning to green-up, tulips and daffodils are peeking through, before we know it, summer will be upon us. Soon we will be spending evenings relaxing with close friends and family enjoying one of my favorite times of year in the valley.
As the weather begins to warm up, now is time to make your home summer ready. We want to help make your transition from spring to summer safe, easy and efficient. Here are some things you can do to have your yard ready for all those summer gatherings, barbecues and long summer evenings.
1. There is no more time left to prime your automatic sprinkler system
Nothing can get your lawn looking the way it should like a properly functioning sprinkler system. We recommend doing a full check of all components before starting up your system for the season. Check the controller, water pressure, valves and look for general wear and tear or obstruction of any components. And as your yard matures, so does the need to make sure everything is getting adequate water. Check your drip systems for too small of admitters or they may get clogged due to our hard water in this area.
2. Check your hose bibs.
If you use a traditional hose watering system, be sure to have your hose bibs looked at to ensure a secure connection. A hose bib is the outside faucet connecting your hose to your inside plumbing system. Over time, hose bibs can leak, and can be costly to your water bill and may need to be replaced by a licensed plumber.
3. Check your basement and crawl space, you may find you need to call a licensed plumber to install a sump pump for your home
A sump pump protects against flooding by removing water accumulated from rain, natural ground water and melted snow or ice. The pump, usually installed in a basement or crawlspace, sends water away from your home where it will not cause damage.
If you already have a sump pump, have your pump in-spected periodically to make sure it is working properly and discharging water to the right place. In one of our homes, we even had a sump pump in our yard because we had so much ground water.
4. Set up lighting
Proper lighting can add an impressive effect to your land-scaping and increase your home’s level of security. Land-scape lighting can accent a flower garden or water feature. It can also emphasize and brighten gathering spaces like a patio or grilling area. For added security, we recommend installing motion-activated lighting and lights near driveways, walkways, windows and doors.
5. Add sound to your patio
Set the tone for any summer activity by adding speakers to your patio or outdoor entertaining areas. Music adds to the atmosphere but cords are easily tripped on and water can damage speakers and wiring. Thankfully, there are ways to protect your speakers and wiring from the elements. We recommend buying a sound system designed for outdoor use and calling a licensed electrician for installation.
6. Clean that BBQ grill
If you are like our family, we barbecue all year long. It is amazing how much build up from juicy meats and sauces ac-cumulates in a very short amount of time.
7. Now is the time to call and schedule your Air Conditioning System check
Waiting until it gets up into the 80s consistently, will only put you in a position of possibly not being able to get your air conditioning checked as soon as you may want, as our service technicians will be backed up with “no cools” from our customers who did not have their air conditioning checked regularly preparing your home for summer may take a bit of effort; however, by planning and budgeting now, you can transform your home into a summer haven in no time at all.
As always, your Comfort is our Central concern, call 756-6656, for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs.
Cheese Crisps
4 cups Parmigiano-Reggiano (parmesan) shredded.
Mix in your favorite fresh herbs, like rosemary, oregano or chives.
—Drop by 1/8th of cup size scoops onto a parchment pa-per lined baking sheet.
—Bake at 375 degrees for about 5 minutes or until the crisps just begin to turn golden.
Cool and enjoy. So easy and delicious…