How to Protect Your Home from Nevada Heat
The summers in Las Vegas, Nevada are scorching, with temperatures that reach triple digits on more than one occasion. Southern Nevada’s extreme heat is not only dangerous for people, but it can be damaging for homes. The Nevada heat is known to expand and warp floorboards, damage interior pipes, crack roof structures, deteriorate attics, and peel or flake the paint off your house. In this article, we will discuss the steps you can take to ensure that your home does not suffer from heat damage, keeping it and you safe from the elements.
Continue to read to find out how you can protect your home against the heat damage caused by extremely high temperatures in Nevada.
Air Conditioning
Tonya Peek of Tonya Peek Real Estate Group had this to say about the importance of air conditioning:
“Believe it or not, some homes come with little to no air conditioning, a danger to your health and home once the temperature in Nevada exceeds the triple digits. Those who live in newer subdivisions and homes may not run into the issue of not having an air conditioner, but for those who live in older or dated housing in Nevada without one, there are options for you. Window A/C units run off the electricity of your home, suctioning in the air from outside and dispersing it through the room that the window is in at cooler temperatures. Not only will it save you from possible heat stroke, but it will also keep the inside of your house from becoming damaged to extreme heat—think warped wood floors or damaged pipes.”
Drapes & Shades
If you do not already have them in your home, we recommend installing drapes and/or shades to every window and glass door. The reason, apart from added privacy? The presence of drapes and/or shades is to provide insulation by blocking out the sun’s hot and disastrous rays. If you want to take a step up from drapes or shades, you can also install window tinting, whether you get an adhesive tint to cover the window or use a low-emissivity coating to reduce solar gains. Either way, you will be set, and more importantly, your home won’t have any damage.
Weather Stripping Installation
Weather stripping on doors, windows, and an overlooked window A/C unit will block out and prevent hot air gaps. Apart from keeping out unwanted pests, weather stripping can cause a 10% reduction in your energy bill by preventing air leaks and a strain on your heating and cooling system. With weather stripping you will be able to open and close your doors properly, but also keep the inside of your house cooler while saving more money in your pocket per month.
Insulation
Greg Smith of The Re/Max Collection had this to say about the importance of insulation:
“There must be properly placed insulation between your home’s walls, floors, and ceilings. Adding insulation can be a major expense to you, however, it will always make a big difference in the reduction of your energy costs. Old and thin insulation is almost completely ineffective against heat protection and contains cool air produced by your chosen cooling system.”
Warm Weather Appliances
It is important to consider how quickly warm weather in Nevada can set on, which is why you should have your appliances set for warm summer weather. Make sure to check your refrigerator temperatures and make sure that it has adequate ventilation space and clean dust from the cooling coils inside to properly prevent appliances from overheating. The operating temperatures of your water heater should be turned down to 120 degrees F.
Insulation & Vent in the Attic
Your attic and the door to your attic, if you have one in your home, should be properly insulated. Blown-in loose attic insulation is low material and low cost, as it is a high return on investment on home improvement projects. Where you access the attic space should also be insulated. Heat should be allowed to properly escape with the use of a continuous venting system, which will reduce A/C costs. The system should ideally be installed to properly vent the eaves of the roof vents. Another option for homeowners in Nevada is to install a whole-house attic fan.
Elastomeric Paint
If your home has suffered intense exterior heat damage and you notice that the paint is either chipped or bubbling, elastomeric paint. This paint creates a barrier against moisture while helping to avoid mold issues. Similarly, you can add a protective coat product to sun-exposed wood.
Light Paint
Believe it or not, the color of paint that you choose will impact whether or not the amount of damage caused by the sun. Heat absorption from the sun can be reduced by using light-colored roof and wall colors. There are reflective roofing materials known as “cool roofs,” particularly helpful in preventing the transfer of the sun’s heat into your home.
Planting Trees
Kelly Fruit of First Fruits Landscaping had this to say about the planting of trees aiding in protecting
You can create shade with the planting and addition of trees and awnings. Shade your home along the southern side where exposure from the sun occurs during the day, for maximum impact. Deciduous trees are a good option as they provide cover during the warm months that allow sun exposure in cooler times when leaves are shed from the trees. Ensure to plant trees at enough distance to avoid damage to the foundation due to roots.
Conclusion
For homeowners, it is vital to prepare your home for extreme heat to help maintain the overall value of your investment while providing comfort to those who live inside. Mitigating the access the sun and heat have to your home can help both you and your family avoid risks of extreme heat exposure to your person and home. Let the professionals at The Las Vegas Luxury Home Pro guide you in finding and settling into your dream home in the many beautiful neighborhoods in Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV today!