It’s no secret that Las Vegas sees some searing temps during the summer months—and often during the other seasons as well. In fact, the city averages triple digits temperatures 70 days out of the year. The record high is 117 degrees, a record set in 1942 and tied again in July of 2021.
Along with the heat comes some incredibly dry conditions. Compared to the national average of 30 inches per year, Las Vegas averages less than 4 inches most years. The wettest year on record saw just 10 inches.
All that heat and dry conditions create some unique challenges for homeowners. Compared to homes in more temperate climates, desert homes need some unique or extra maintenance to stay cool and avoid damage, as well as soaring energy or water bills.
Failure to prepare for the summer heat could leave you in need of an emergency plumber Las Vegas. If you’re lucky enough to be a Las Vegas homeowner, keep reading to learn a few tips to maintain your property in the desert heat.
Show Your Air Conditioner Some Love
The last thing that you want to find out on the first day of triple-digit temperatures in Las Vegas is to discover that your air conditioner isn’t working properly. Before those days arrive (ideally a few weeks before the start of summer), always be sure to turn your air conditioner on for a test. Better yet, schedule an air conditioner service and let the pros show your AC some love to ensure it’s running smoothly when the heat arrives.
Other things you can do to make sure that nothing stands in the way of that sweet, cool air and the inside of your home is to regularly change your air filters, and make sure that no dirt and debris have formed around the exterior AC unit.
Check Your Window and Door Seals
Just because your air conditioner is functioning properly doesn’t mean that your home will stay nice and cool. If your door or window seals are old, dry, cracked, or damaged, that cool air will start escaping back outside just as quickly as it got in. And cracked or damaged window and door seals are yet another side effect of all that dry, hot air.
If you find that your door and window seals are all intact, but the area around the edges of your doors and windows still feels overly warm, it could be time for an upgrade. New doors and windows, along with new frames, may better lock in the nice, cool interior of your home.
Along the same lines, older homes may lose their cool air through the windows and the roof. Replacing your home’s insulation can help create an extra barrier to keep the heat out and the cold air in.
Think Twice About Your Home’s Exterior Paint Color
A dark-gray, black, or navy home might be a trendy, modern choice. But it’s a style that’s best kept to homes in moderate climates.
Your Las Vegas desert home is going to spend a lot of the day baking in the heat. A dark color will trap heat, rather than repelling it. This can actually translate to more heat inside your home as well.
If you’re thinking about painting your home or if your home is a dark color and you’re struggling to keep it cool, consider colors like light gray, brown, or orange to reflect heat instead. As a bonus, these tones are perfect for creating those desert vibes! Add some low-maintenance desert plants like cactus and succulents to your landscaping and you’ll have a beautiful home that won’t turn into an oven on a hot summer day.
Install Window Coverings
Another great way to keep your air conditioner from working overtime during the summer months is to add some window coverings designed with insulation in mind. Blackout window shades, stick-on films, and even room darkening shades can help your well-sealed windows and functioning air conditioner work better, and help to keep your energy bills lower during the summer months.
Understand the Effects of Hard Water
Desert conditions often go hand-in-hand with excess levels of mineral deposits and sediment in the water. All that hard water can wreak havoc in your pipes, faucets, bathtubs, showers, and on your skin and hair. If you’re unsure of whether your home’s water is hard, signs you can watch for include:
- White scale build up inside the mouth of your faucets, requiring faucet and replacement repair Las Vegas
- Rough, scaly, shiny texture on the walls of your shower, inside of toilets, and in your sinks
- Dishwasher that no longer seems to clean dishes as well as it once did
- Clothing fresh from your washer that don’t look clean or that feel rough
- Towels fresh from your washer that feel rough when they were once soft
- Hair that feels overly dry and prone to breakage
Unfortunately, these are only the signs that you can easily spot. Hard water also causes build-up in your pipes. Over time, this affects the efficiency of many of your appliances, increasing your utility and water costs.
A water softener can help to reduce the effect of hard water on faucets, inside your tubs and showers, and on your skin. If you’re adding a water softener to a home that previously didn’t have one or that had one that was past its prime, it’s a good idea to have your pipes checked and serviced as well.
Along with regular maintenance, a water softener can help you to avoid needing an emergency plumber in North Las Vegas.
Maintaining Your Home in the Desert Heat
Las Vegas’ beautiful, but hot summers can wreak havoc on your desert home. But staying cool is easy with a little pre-season maintenance and some smart remodeling decisions.
From servicing your AC to adding a water softener to rethinking your home’s exterior paint, these tips can all help you stay cool and comfortable, lower your energy and water costs, and help you to better enjoy your home all year long.
Whether you need to schedule your next AC service or want to learn more about adding a water softener or replacing your hard water-damaged pipes, we’re here to help. Give us a call today to speak to one of our experts about all of your desert home needs!
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