Apr 10, 2018
What to expect this summer in Northern Virginia
Despite some chillier weather that’s hit the area recently, summer is on the horizon for Northern Virginia. In the past few years, it’s started to heat up around late April — only a few short weeks away! Let’s take a look at typical weather patterns for the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia area as well as some predictions for what’s in store this year to get a better idea of what kind of weather conditions you can expect this summer.
What has the weather been like the past few summers?
According to data from
USclimatedata.com, Northern Virginia summers have been getting increasingly hot and humid over the past few years.
From early June to late August of 2016, temperatures averaged in the low to mid 80s, with a seasonal high temperature that reached over 100 degrees in mid August. There was less rainfall than normal in 2016, although a majority of days were extremely humid.
In the summer of 2017, temperatures decreased slightly, averaging in the high 70s to low 80s. The record high temperature for the season was around 98 degrees. 2017 saw heavier rainfall, especially in July, which averaged nearly 10 inches of rain over the course of the month.
What is the weather going to be like this summer?
The weather in Northern Virginia this summer will be no exception to the trends we’ve been seeing over the past few years. According to the 2018 long range weather forecast from the
Farmer’s Almanac, “Summer will be hotter and slightly rainier than normal, with the hottest periods in early June, early July, and late August.”
The one key weather pattern to keep your eye on this year is precipitation. While the expectation for the East Coast is increased rain and humidity, there is a chance that worsening drought conditions facing the western and central regions of the country could spread
further north and east than originally anticipated.
This potential change in NoVA precipitation patterns could affect your water bill, so it’s important to be mindful of how much water you use. Here are some ways you can cut back on water usage and
save money on your water bill:
- Take shorter showers.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full.
- Combine laundry loads for fewer washes.
- Use a timer for your sprinkler system.
- Leave the grass clippings on the lawn to preserve soil moisture.
How can I prepare for summer weather?
Ensure you’re getting the most out of your home cooling system this summer! Here are some ways you can prepare for the upcoming NoVA heat:
Get an A/C inspection. Before you turn on the air conditioning each summer, it’s important to have your HVAC unit inspected to make sure your cooling system runs smoothly throughout the season. Running your A/C for an extended period of time can lead to several problems such as dirty evaporator and condenser coils, clogged air filters, issues with the fan speed and low refrigerant levels.
Unnoticed damage to your cooling system can lead to higher utility bills and costly repairs later on. Contact our
air conditioning repair experts to have your HVAC system serviced before the summer heat sets in.
Check for leaky ducts. According to Energy Star, homes can lose anywhere from
20 to 30 percent of conditioned air from leaky ducts. Look out for these signs of leaky ducts in your home:
- Expensive utility bills. Leaky ducts make your HVAC system work harder and longer to cool your living space. If you can’t seem to figure out the cause of your high utility bills, call one of our Warrenton HVAC professionals to schedule a duct inspection.
- Uneven cooling throughout your house. Unless you have vents closed in certain rooms, air should circulate evenly throughout your home. A stuffy room could indicate a leak in the duct leading to that area of the house.
- Excessive accumulation of dust in your home. Holes in your air ducts allow unfiltered air to cycle through your home, which means dust will build up faster than usual.
- Visible gaps between duct connections or kinks in flexible ducts. This can be tough to spot, especially if the air ducts are located in your attic or crawl space.
Get your home in shape for the summer.
Make sure your air conditioner is ready to crank this summer! One of our
five-star technicians can get your HVAC system primed and tuned for the hot months to come. Call CroppMetcalfe 1-877-740-6657 or schedule service
online now.