After a long winter, the hot summer sun can come as a relief. It’s nice to finally get outside and fire up that grill! However, once the wintertime threat of ice and snow has passed, it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security in that warm summer sunshine.
Since we don’t want you to be caught by surprise, we put together three of the most common ways heat and humidity can damage your home and what’s inside.
#1: Humidity: the Silent Creeper
In a lot of areas, high heat arrives for the summer months with its best friend; high humidity. Humidity can be especially damaging to your home because its effects slowly build up over time. Little by little, moisture seeping into your walls takes hold. Unbeknownst to you, the perfect environment for mould growth is taking place right under your nose.
By the time you can see the mould, it’s too late. It’s taken hold of your beautiful house, and it can be both dangerous to your health and difficult to eradicate. To protect your home from humidity damage, consider encapsulating your crawl space, adding vents to your roof for proper airflow, and making sure your doors and windows are sealed properly.
#2: Shifting Soil Fractures Foundations
While high humidity can cause damage by way of mould, high heat can cause damage too. Extreme heat can dry out the soil on your property, causing your home’s foundation to shift, destabilizing the bones of the house. A shifting foundation can be seen through cracks in the foundation or outer walls of the home, but these are only the obvious signs that come to mind when we think of foundation problems in a home.
Other issues may seem unconnected but should ring warning bells if you notice them after a bout of extreme heat, including doors that constantly stick or gaps around window casings. Foundation problems can be costly, so address them as soon as you suspect one!
#3: Flaky Frames and Warped Wood
Heat and humidity don’t just attack the structure of your home; they can affect the things inside your home, as well. Wood furniture and canvas paintings are at particular risk of damage from summer weather. Because natural materials expand and contract in proportion to the heat and humidity, paintings and their frames may begin to flake or crack.
Like in the walls of the house, moisture can spur mould growth. Additionally, wooden furniture can warp if exposed to extreme conditions. In order to avoid damage to your belongings, it’s important to maintain a consistent atmosphere in the home year-round by running air conditioning in the summer and a humidifier in the winter.
One way to keep your home nice and cool during the summer months is with awnings and shades for the windows. If you need an extra bit of cooling for your home this summer, contact us to schedule a time to discuss your home cooling needs.