Living in the desert can be both easy and difficult. Yes, the summers can become unbearably hot—and you will need access to cooler temperatures via staying indoors and with air conditioning. At the same time, there are many benefits to living in the desert as well. For instance, the lack of moisture means a lower probability of mold in the air and in your home.
Also, moisture can irritate those with arthritis. Not to mention, less humidity is good for allergy sufferers. And, when it comes to healing wounds, dry air makes it harder for bacteria to grow. Not to mention, there is a lot of sunshine. At the same time, you want your home to be protected from any of the impactful elements of the desert from its drying aspects to extreme heat. Keep reading to learn more.
Seal All Leaks
During the summer in the desert, you’re probably turning up your air conditioning on full blast. You aren’t the only one. There’s just one problem—hot air leaking into your home will be a massive drain on your energy usage. You’ll keep lowering the temperature, and may even think something is wrong with your A/C unit. As a result, it pays off to have a professional search for any leaks into your home. The next step would be to seal all the leaks. In addition, make sure your home meets the current city code standards for air-tightness.
Change Your Lightbulbs
Few people know that incandescent bulbs convert 90 percent of their used electricity into heat. This can make for quite the stuffy home. Instead, change out your incandescent bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent bulbs. Moreover, these types of bulbs also last longer and utilize less energy. Not to mention, they’re much cooler making for a more comfortable indoor environment.
Select the Right Roof
A good roof is your best defense against the detriments that come with living in a desert climate. To illustrate, metal roofing is a popular choice for desert homes because they are energy-efficient and low-maintenance. Furthermore, metal roofs naturally reflect heat from the sun. And, they do not split, crack, or rot under the hot sun either.
Replace Your Doors and Windows
Doors and windows can be a huge source of leaks in the home. There are many varieties of doors and windows, but you want a tight-sealing window. In fact, choose windows with casements. And, talk to your door retailer about the best doors for a desert climate.
As you can see, there are several beneficial updates you can make to your desert home. Which ones will you start on first?
