7 Ways to Prepare Your Home For EXTREME Heat, According to Experts

If you notice any curling edges, missing shingles, or large chunks of granules in your gutters, call a professional roofer for an inspection, he suggests. Repairing shingles can cost a few hundred bucks, but a full roof replacement, on average, costs more than $9,000.

Apply New Caulk

When it gets hot, the caulk around doors and windows can dry out and crack, letting air and water leak out, Perzylo says. Over time, heat makes the caulk less flexible, which makes it easy to snap.

Hot temps in the forecast can be a good reminder to apply new caulk, especially if you’re noticing any cracks or holes around the doors and windows, he says. Make sure the surface you’re caulking is clean and dry, and do this task on a cool day to make sure it adheres well.

Clean Out Your Gutters

Vinyl or aluminum gutters can bend or sag during a heat wave, Perzylo says. “This can hurt the drainage in your yard and even cause water damage to the foundation of your home,” he says. If you see water leaking over the sides of the gutters when it rains, it could mean they’re not lined up properly because they’re warping.

This can be avoided by cleaning your gutters regularly. Clean gutters don’t hold as much weight, so they’re less likely to sag or pull away from your house, Perzylo explains. You might also want to install gutter guards to keep debris from building up.

Depending on how bad the damage is, repairs usually cost between $300 and $1,500 and can entail securing loose parts, replacing warped pieces, or getting new gutters.

Reseal Your Windows

Since wood is porous, wooden windows and doors can swell in high humidity and heat, making them difficult to open or close, Asif Bux, service manager at Comfort Union, an HVAC and plumbing company, explains. When the weather cools, the wood dries and shrinks. When this happens repeatedly, your doors and windows can start to get warped, and gaps can form between the frame and the sash on a door or sill on a window. Making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed can lessen the problem. If you find yourself in a constant battle to get your doors to shut properly, you may want to consider more weather-resistant materials like vinyl or fiberglass, Bux says.

Use a Dehumidifier

High temperatures often come with increased humidity levels, which creates an ideal environment for mold growth, especially in poorly ventilated areas like basements and attics, Bux says. If you catch it early, getting rid of mold can cost $500, but if the mold spores spread to walls and surfaces and a larger remediation is needed, the cost can go up to $6,000 or more, Bux estimates.

Using a dehumidifier is a good line of defense, Bux says, as you’ll want to try to keep your indoor humidity levels below 60 percent, but between 30 to 50 percent is ideal, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Also, make sure that you’re properly ventilating your bathrooms and kitchens using exhaust fans, he recommends. You also want to stay on top of little tasks to eliminate damp areas, like drying the rubber ring on your washer to get rid of any moisture that pools up, and be on the lookout for any condensation on your AC unit or other appliances.

Heating and cooling systems are two of the biggest energy users in the home, accounting for between 40 to 50 percent of a home’s energy bill on average, Shawn McLaughlin, CEO of Emporia Energy, says. While it’s a good idea to dial them back when not in use to trim down on your energy use, don’t turn off your air conditioning entirely when you’re away, since it also controls humidity. “In some climates, turning off the A/C while you're away can lead to moisture build-up and mold growth,” he says.

Seal Grout Lines

Tile, particularly ceramic and porcelain tile, can expand slightly in severe heat, Drew Mansur, cofounder and director of TileCloud, a tiling and homewares company, says. This expansion is typically absorbed by the grout lines, but if the heat is extreme or prolonged, it can lead to cracking or buckling of tiles. This is why it’s so important to make sure that tiles are laid with proper expansion gaps around the edges (this is typically hidden under the baseboards or trim).

Professionals should also use high-quality, flexible grout that can stand up to some movement and high temperatures, Mansur says. Regularly sealing the grout lines can help protect your tile. But if you need to replace your tile, it can cost $10 to $50 per square foot.