At Solstice Homes we love the summertime just as much as you do. It can be easy to forget though that with the changing of seasons, there are also some changes that need to be made around the house. Here are four summer maintenance tips that will help to keep your family safe and your home in tip-top condition:

1. Check all recreational equipment: Now that the warm weather is here that gas BBQ griller is going to be put to some serious use. But before putting all that pressure on your equipment to perform, check to make sure that all lines, wires and connections are in good shape. (Read the rest)

Guitars, beer, games and sports memorabilia fill these unabashedly masculine rooms for men of all ages and tastes

Show your patriotic pride with a flag on your home’s exterior for Memorial Day, Flag Day, & the Fourth of July or all year round

Before the rainy season comes to stay for the remainder of the fall, you’ll want to be sure to clean out the gutters around your home before they clean out your wallet. If rainwater can’t properly flow through the gutter and the downspout system of your home, you may face some costly home repairs that will add up quickly thanks to rainwater damage. So get out your rubber gloves and let’s get to cleaning!

Here’s what you’ll need to safely get started:

1. A ladder that’s tall enough to let you see and reach into the gutters.

2. Thick gloves to protect your hands and lower arms. (Read the rest)

Camping is a fun way to get family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors. Follow these tips and use the packing checklist to help ensure your camping trip is safe and healthy.

Camping Tips

Get vaccinated.

Vaccinations can help protect against certain diseases and conditions while camping. Be sure your vaccinations and your family’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Check with your doctor or nurse to see if you’ve had all of the recommended vaccines. He or she may recommend tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and/or hepatitis A, depending on your medical history, destination, and other factors.

Vaccines Help Protect Travelers of All Ages

Prepare healthy and safe food. (Read the rest)

This summer, make sure your fans are spinning in the right direction in order to produce the proper breeze to keep you cool. Most fans are reversible, with one direction of the spin forcing air down to create a cool breeze perfect for heat waves. When the fan spins the other direction, air is pushed up to distribute heat during the colder months of winter.

How do you tell if you fan is spinning the right direction to beat the heat in the summer?

1. Turn the fan on and stand beneath it.

2. If you feel a cool breeze, then you know the fan is spinning in the correct direction. (Read the rest)

How Energy Efficiency Goals Hinge on Home Remodeling

By Robert Dietz

Upgrading existing homes to include more energy efficient features can save those homeowners money.

In addition to updated kitchens and bathrooms, house hunters are increasingly looking for upgrades that might be less flashy, but will save them money over the long run.

About 94 percent of homebuyers want energy-star rated appliances according to the most recent National Association of Home Builder’s survey of homebuyer preferences. Another 91 percent sought an overall energy-star rating for the home, and almost 90 percent wanted energy-star rated windows.

[READ: Net-Zero Energy Home Could Make Utility Bills a Thing of the Past]

The good news is, more newly built homes fit that bill, which is making the nation’s housing stock increasingly energy efficient.

(Read the rest)

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. Whether you are a beginner or expert gardener, health and safety are always important.

Below are some tips to help keep you safe and healthy so that you can enjoy the beauty and bounty gardening can bring.

(Read the rest)

Dress to protect. Gear up to protect yourself from lawn and garden pests, harmful chemicals, sharp or motorized equipment, insects, and harmful rays of too much sun. Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers and other machinery.