10 Things Every Phoenix Homeowner Should Fix Before Summer

Summer in Phoenix Is Not the Time for Surprises

When the thermometer hits 115 degrees in July, you do not want to discover that your AC is struggling, your weatherstripping has deteriorated, or your pool pump is on its last leg. The time to address these things is now—in the spring—when contractors are available and the work is more comfortable for everyone involved.

Here are the 10 things every Phoenix homeowner should address before the heat arrives.

1. Service Your HVAC System

This is non-negotiable. Have a professional check your refrigerant levels, clean the condenser coils, replace the filter, test the capacitors, and flush the condensation drain line. A failed AC in July is a miserable, expensive emergency.

2. Replace Weatherstripping on Exterior Doors

The rubber and foam weatherstripping around your front door, back door, and garage entry door degrades quickly in the Arizona sun. If you can see daylight around a closed door, you're paying to cool the outside. New weatherstripping costs a few dollars in material and makes an immediate difference in your energy bill.

3. Caulk Windows and Trim

Walk the exterior of your home and look at the caulk joints around windows, door frames, and where the stucco meets trim boards. If the caulk is cracked, peeling, or missing, hot air is getting in and cool air is getting out. It also allows water intrusion during monsoons.

4. Inspect Your Roof

Check for cracked, shifted, or missing tiles. Look at the flashing around any roof penetrations (vents, pipes, satellite dishes). It's far cheaper to fix a few tiles in April than to deal with a ceiling leak in the middle of a monsoon storm in August.

5. Test All Smoke and CO Detectors

Batteries may have died over the winter. Press the test button on every unit. Replace any detector older than 10 years. This takes 15 minutes and could save your family's life.

6. Check Pool Equipment

Turn on your pool pump and listen. Grinding, squealing, or rattling noises mean bearings are failing. Check your pool filter pressure gauge after a backwash—if it immediately goes back to high pressure, you may need a new filter. Also inspect the pool timer and ensure your pump is running enough hours to keep the water clear through the summer.

7. Touch Up Exterior Paint

The south-facing and west-facing walls of your home take a beating from the sun. Fading, peeling, or chalking paint exposes stucco to moisture and UV damage. A targeted touch-up is far cheaper than a full repaint later.

8. Lubricate Door Hinges, Locks, and Sliding Tracks

Desert dust and heat dry out lubricants faster than in other climates. A can of silicone spray on your sliding glass door track, front door hinges, and deadbolt mechanisms keeps everything operating smoothly and extends the life of the hardware.

9. Clear Your Dryer Vent

Lint buildup in your dryer vent is a fire hazard, and it also makes your dryer work harder (increasing your electricity bill and shortening the dryer's lifespan). You should have it cleaned annually. Spring is the perfect time.

10. Flush Your Water Heater

Phoenix's hard water creates heavy sediment buildup at the bottom of your water heater tank. This reduces efficiency and can lead to premature tank failure. Draining and flushing the tank annually extends its life significantly. If your water heater is over 10 years old, this is also a good time to start thinking about replacement before it fails and floods your garage.

Need Help With Your List?

This is exactly what The Fixory is built for. Give us your punch list, and our licensed technicians will knock out as many items as possible in a single, efficient visit. We serve Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, and Surprise.