Ah, summer—the season of backyard BBQs, sunburns you pretend are “just a little pink,” and… home inspections? Yep. While you're dreaming of pool floats and popsicles, we’re diving into attics, crawling under porches, and sniffing out problems like a bloodhound with a toolbelt.
At Strouse Home Inspection, we love a good summer day—but let’s be real, the heat can turn your dream home into a sweat-soaked headache if you’re not careful. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just getting a mid-year checkup, here are the usual suspects we uncover during those toasty summer inspections:
The Attic is Basically an Oven (and it’s not ventilating right)
If you thought your attic just existed to hoard holiday decorations, think again. Proper attic ventilation is crucial in the summer. Without it, heat builds up like a pressure cooker—warping rafters, toasting insulation, and sending your AC into an early retirement.
What we look for:
- Blocked soffit vents
- Missing or poorly placed ridge vents
- Mold or mildew (because moisture + heat = yuck)
- Signs of critters taking up residence in the sauna
Air Conditioners That Are About to Give Up
Summer inspections love to expose HVAC systems that are barely hanging on. After months of downtime, your AC gets thrown into battle against 90-degree heat, and sometimes… it just can’t.
Common finds:
- Dirty coils
- Leaky refrigerant lines
- Clogged drains
- Systems that sound like an airplane taking off (not ideal)
Gutter Drama & Drainage Disasters
Rain happens. But if your gutters are jammed with last fall’s leaves and spring’s pollen sludge, water might start creeping where it shouldn’t—like into your foundation or crawlspace.
Summer inspection hot takes:
- Clogged gutters
- Downspouts that dump water straight onto your flower beds
- Poor grading that sends water toward your house (nature’s betrayal)
Cracks That Weren’t There Last Season
Heat causes materials to expand—and when the sun’s been working overtime, we often find hairline cracks or worse in concrete, siding, and even interior walls.
What we check:
- Foundation cracks
- Driveway expansion
- Brick mortar gaps
- Patio settling that makes your grill look tipsy
Unwanted Tenants (Creepy-Crawly Edition)
Summer is prime time for bugs, rodents, and other uninvited guests to scurry indoors and claim your cool, dark corners. Basements, crawlspaces, and even cabinets aren’t safe.
Look out for:
- Signs of termites, ants, or spiders
- Rodent droppings
- Wasps setting up Airbnb rentals in your eaves
- Unusual odors (we don’t like it either)
Fire Safety Faux Pas
Outdoor living = grills, fire pits, and tiki torches galore. Summer inspections often reveal questionable setups that are one s’more away from disaster.
We look for:
- Overloaded outlets near outdoor kitchens
- Extension cord chaos
- Smoke detectors that haven’t worked since 2012
- Flammable landscaping near the house (yes, your dried-out mulch is a fire risk)
Summer Might Be Sizzling, But So Are Our Inspections
Here at Strouse Home Inspection, we don’t just sweat for fun—we do it to protect your investment and your peace of mind. A summer inspection can catch those heat-related hiccups before they turn into full-blown horror stories.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or just want a seasonal health check for your home, we’ve got the knowledge, the tools, and the sweatbands to get it done right.
Ready to Book Your Inspection?
We bring the shade, the smarts, and the checklist—so you can enjoy the summer, not stress through it. Go ahead and call Strouse Home Inspection today!
By Strouse Home Inspections Staff 6-1-2025
