6 jobs to do in summer (that you might think are better done in winter)

Getting the garden in shape is top of many summer to-do lists. But, there are also plenty of other jobs that are best done before the warm weather hits. Find out what these summer home improvement jobs are, and why you should prioritise them, below.

1. Service your boiler

One of the many great things about summer is that our heating bills most likely go down, as we’re using our boilers less. You shouldn’t put your boiler to the back of your mind though! It’s a great idea to get it serviced in the summer, before the gas and heating engineers in your area get booked up in winter and autumn. That way, you’ll avoid the risk of your boiler breaking down during the cold weather. Don’t forget, there are plenty of grants and other financial support to help you make your home more energy efficient.

A gas and heating engineer can let you know if your boiler’s efficient too. This is a good indicator as to whether you could save more money on your heating bill. Read more about how to find out if your boiler is efficient and whether you could save money on your energy bills.

2. Install or upgrade your CCTV

You might think that security cameras are most useful during the winter, due the longer evenings, not to mention the fact that our Christmas presents can attract the attention of burglars. But they’re just as valuable in the summer because we aren’t in our homes as much, whether that’s due to warm evenings spent in a beer garden or a well-deserved holiday abroad. For true peace of mind whilst you’re out having fun, get a security specialist to install CCTV and secure your home.

There are plenty of advanced CCTV systems on the market that’ll help you create a smart home. The options include models that connect to your smartphone, so you’ll know exactly what’s going on in your home in real time.

3. Insulate your pipes

Pipes are the last thing you’re thinking about during the hot weather. However, you’ll thank yourself for sorting them out once winter kicks in and you have no problems to sort out.

Summer is a good time to get a plumber to:

• Insulate indoor and outdoor pipes to reduce heat loss.
• Fix dripping taps and leaky pipes, to protect them from the winter frost.
• Fit a smart leak detector or automatic stop valve.

4. Replace inefficient windows

It’s a well-known fact that double and triple glazing stops heat from escaping your home, which is essential for the colder months. But did you know that it also helps your home stay cool during hot weather? Double and triple glazing your windows means that heat will stop transferring from one side of the window to the other. That means heat from outside won’t pass through and into your home. If you often get frustrated because you find it too warm to sleep during summer, but can’t keep your windows open for security reasons, upgrading to double or triple glazing should help. It’ll also make your home more energy efficient.

To keep your home even cooler during summer, install blackout blinds for a quick fix. Motorised blinds are also a good option, as you can lower them at the touch of a button to bring shade into your home. Plus, you can set a schedule so they open at a certain time in the morning. That means you’ll enjoy a relaxing wakeup call courtesy of the morning sun – much less stressful than your phone’s alarm tone!

5. Install new worktops

Replacing your worktop is a cost-effective modern kitchen makeover hack that’s recommended by the experts. A kitchen fitter will need to carry out the old one, and it’s safer for them to do that when the path, driveway or street outside your home isn’t icy and slippery due to snow or rain.

17% of homeowners are planning to renovate their kitchen in 2021, according to The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021. If you’re one of them, but you haven’t gotten around to renovating yet, installing a new worktop is a great starting point.

6. Repaint your rooms

You might think it’s better to paint when you’re spending more time indoors during the winter. However, it’s also a fun DIY project to do with the kids whilst they’re off school for the summer. If you’re looking for more easy summer home improvement jobs, check out our blog post on DIY jobs to do whilst social distancing.

If you’re working from home and want to revamp your workspace, a fresh lick of paint will invigorate you even on the hottest of days when you’d rather be outside!

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