7 Upsetting Things That Happen to Your House in Extreme Heat
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We’ve officially reached the dog days of summer, and it’s not just you panting for relief. Your home can feel the effects of a hot-weather streak too, from the floor tile expanding after a series of 100-degree days to the roof shingles curling and buckling.
David Lewis, owner and founder of Mission AC, Plumbing and Electrical, has a good deal of knowledge when it comes to home woes amid heat and humidity since he’s based in Houston, Texas, one of the hottest, stickiest cities in the United States, with average highs in the nineties throughout the summer.
“In the plumbing world, we often see issues crop up during heat waves,” Lewis says. “Pipes can expand in high temperatures, leading to leaks or even bursts, especially in older systems. And when it comes to electricity, the increased power consumption during hot spells can overload your system, potentially causing circuit issues or, in worst-case scenarios, electrical fires.”
Heat waves are bound to happen in most parts of the United States, which is why prevention is key, Lewis adds.
For your HVAC system, he recommends regular maintenance like replacing air filters regularly and ensuring your home is properly insulated. This is a task you should be doing every three months. Insulating pipes, especially in vulnerable areas like attics and crawl spaces, he says, can help minimize temperature-related issues. If you’re constantly running multiple high-power devices like your AC, dishwasher, and washer and dryer, it might be worth upgrading to a higher-capacity panel.
It’s also important to know what signs to watch for during a hot streak, Lewis says. “If your AC isn’t cooling as efficiently, is making strange noises, or is frequently cycling on and off, it might be struggling with the heat,” he says. For plumbing systems, keep an eye out for unexplained increases in water bills, damp spots on walls or ceilings, or reduced water pressure. Electrical red flags include flickering lights, frequently tripping breakers, and outlets and switches that feel warm to the touch.
If you do end up needing repairs, costs can vary widely. A simple refrigerant recharge for your AC might run you several hundreds of dollars, while a full system replacement could be $10,000 or more. Plumbing repairs for a single leak might cost a couple hundred, but whole-house repiping can easily hit the $10,000 mark. For electrical issues, you might be looking at more than $300 for a circuit breaker replacement or up to $4,000 for a full panel upgrade.
With that explainer out of the way, here are seven more problems that a prolonged heat wave can cause in your home.
Power Outages Can Overwhelm Your Appliances
Power outages and surges during heatwaves can cause significant problems for home systems, Lewis says. In the middle of extreme temperatures, HVAC companies often see damaged capacitors, control boards, and compressors, leading to system failures and expensive repairs. These power issues can also affect well pumps, potentially damaging them when power returns suddenly. In extreme cases, power surges can even cause electrical fires.
“To protect your home, I recommend installing whole-house surge protectors, considering a standby generator, and maintaining your HVAC system regularly,” Lewis says.
Shingles Can Curl or Crack
Extreme heat can cause roof shingles to curl, crack, or even fall off, says Derek Perzylo, co-owner of Big 5 Exteriors Ltd., an exterior services contractor in Calgary. When it’s hot, the shingles can heat up and swell; when it cools down again, they can retract, which leads to wear and tear. A particularly hot summer can accelerate the aging process of shingles, making them brittle and more susceptible to damage, Perzylo says.
While you can’t control the weather, you can make sure your attic is well ventilated to reduce heat from building up and sizzling your roof. Also, Perzylo says, when it’s time for a roof replacement, look into lighter-colored shingles because they can help reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption.
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 in 2024, on average, costs more than $9,000.
Gutters Can Warp
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 on a regular basis. 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.
Caulking Deteriorates
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. But 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.
Windows and Doors Swell
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. But 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.
Mold Multiplies
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 being on the lookout for any condensation on your AC unit or other appliances.
Yes, 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.
Tile Swells
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.
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