Getting Ready for a Washington Summer

Getting Ready for a Washington Summer

Live west of the Cascades in say, Olympia, and summer is temperate with cool nights, and high humidity. Live east of the Cascades in say, Spokane, summer's are sunny and temperate with fairly low humidity. But the popularity of Seattle in most American's minds leads many to believe that all it does is rain here. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, most people confuse the high precipitation of the Olympia region with Seattle, which actually gets less rain than many east coast cities. Summers throughout most of Washington are very pleasant and filled with dry, sunny days. So temperate in fact that many homes in Washington aren't even equipped with air conditioning!

Nonetheless, summertime brings with it some seasonal changes that a homeowner needs to address. This is true not just for proper maintenance and upkeep in keeping with mortgage requirements and plain old pride of ownership, but to maximize your enjoyment of those long, lovely days:

• No need for storm windows
  To take full advantage of the pleasant breezes that blow in the summer, you will want to throw up the sashes and let them enter your home. That means taking down storm windows, washing them, and replacing them with freshly cleaned screens. If your home is equipped with modern combination windows, you will want to wash them down, allow them to dry, and then slide the glass out of the way to let the fresh air invade your house.
• Ceiling fan maintenance
  While many Washingtonians implement ceiling fans to increase efficiency of warming their homes in cooler months, many homeowners utilize them in summer especially. This is especially true in homes without air conditioning. But, what many are unaware of is that the direction the fans turn makes a difference. In winter, fans turn counterclockwise to keep heat distributed from floor to ceiling. But in summer, clockwise turns bring a cooling wind even when the air outside the house is still.
• Get out the humidity
  In many places west of the Cascade Range, humidity and water damage can be a problem in the rainy winter months. Open windows and ceiling fans are a great way to bring in summer's drier air and to drive off winter humidity and moistness. Launder towels and bedding that may have absorbed humidity like a sponge. You might also check for signs of rain leaking in attic spaces and eaves and get those repaired while the weather is good.
• Eco-friendly repellents & lotions
  Hobo spiders are something to consider when opening up you home and doing all of the spring cleaning activities associated with the coming warmer weather. Hob spiders are severely poisonous and are the primary cause of spider bites in Washington, bites often attributed to the brown recluse spider, which isn't typically found here. Consider eco-friendly extermination services and inspections of your home. Also of concern are biting flies and mosquitoes which do their darndest to take advantage of the nice weather, just as we humans do. So, stock up on repellents and lotions, but look for ones that are eco-friendly!
• Ready the backyard and deck
  Now is the time to take full advantage of the sunny summer months. And now is not the time to leave inspections and repairs for later. An injury due to rusty furniture or weakened wood items is not something you want for your family or guests. Also, be sure everything is in working order and safe. Corrosion can put a real damper on barbecue equipment and in the case of outdoor gas or propane cooking, rust can be a danger. Check valves and gas outlets for damage and corrosion. And be sure clean everything well with detergent and water.