7 DIY Projects to Save Energy & Money This Summer 2026

Imagine cutting your summer AC bill by 15%—without once touching the thermostat. That’s the kind of savings you can unlock this month just by checking a few filters you probably forgot existed. At the same time, a father-son duo proved you can build a stunning deck in a single week, while a major Costco recall has families scrambling to inspect their patio swings. And that odd ticking sound from your car? It might just teach you something about your water heater. This May 2026, all these stories are merging into one clear message: a handful of smart, weekend-sized DIY projects can keep your home safer, your energy costs lower, and your summer a whole lot happier.

Build a Backyard You’ll Actually Use (And Afford)

Not everyone wakes up thinking, “Let’s build a deck.” But after seeing a fellow Family Handyman reader and his son bang out a beautiful backyard deck in seven days, you might. The pair didn’t have a contractor’s license—just determination, a stack of lumber, and a weekend plan. They embraced the dad’s philosophy: “Measure twice, cut once, and let the kid run the music.” The result was a safe, gorgeous gathering spot that would have cost $8,000 or more to have built professionally. By doing it themselves, they spent roughly $2,800 on materials and hardware, and the project came together between Friday evening and the following Saturday afternoon.

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You don’t have to build an entire deck this month to catch that same spirit. Maybe your existing deck just needs sanding, a few new boards, and a fresh coat of stain. That’s a $90–$150 weekend project that buys you three to five more years before a major rebuild. If you do go big, remember: deck blocks and pre-cut stringers can shave hours off your timeline. And if you’ve got a teenager who needs a little less screen time, hand them the circular saw. The confidence they’ll gain might be worth more than the money saved.

Before you kick back, grab a socket wrench. In May 2026, Costco recalled thousands of a popular hanging patio swing after multiple reports of the seat detaching mid-swing, causing bruises and even broken bones. The CPSC recall affects a specific model sold between January 2025 and March 2026—if you bought a hanging swing from Costco in that window, check the model number against the CPSC alert right now. Even if your furniture isn’t under recall, bolts loosen over time. Pro tip: Spend the first 10 minutes of every backyard gathering tightening the hardware on swings, dining sets, and umbrella stands. A single loose bolt can snap under weight and ruin a party—or worse.

The Hidden Filters That Are Robbing Your Wallet

While decks grab attention, the quietest money saver inside your home is something you walk past every day: the humble filter. A new guide from Family Handyman spotlighted every filter that matters in a house, and it’s likely you’re ignoring at least two of them. Together, dirty filters force your appliances to run longer, burn more energy, and flirt with permanent damage.

The big one is your HVAC filter. A clogged $12 furnace filter starves your air conditioner of airflow, making it gobble up to 15% more electricity. In a typical 2,000-square-foot home, that could mean an extra $30 to $60 tacked onto your cooling bill during peak months—for the sake of a filter you can swap in 30 seconds. If you have pets, check it every 30 days. Write the install date on the edge with a Sharpie, and set a reminder for 60 to 90 days out.

Next in line: your dryer vent. You probably clean the lint screen, but the ductwork behind the dryer collects a dense, flammable mat of lint over time. The NFPA reports that clogged dryer vents cause nearly 2,900 house fires each year. Even without a fire, a choked vent makes a load take two or three cycles, wasting gas and electricity. Disconnect the hose, vacuum it out with a shop vac, and give that outdoor vent flap a brush. It’s a 20-minute job that can cut drying time by half.

Don’t stop there. That greasy mesh under your range hood? Toss it in the dishwasher or soak it in degreaser. A clean hood filter traps smoke and grease so your kitchen doesn’t become a summer hot box that forces the AC to work overtime. Your refrigerator’s water filter deserves a fresh cartridge every six months, too—an old filter slows water flow, can crack the internal line, and leaves your ice tasting stale. When you add it up, a family that swaps four key filters on schedule can pocket $200 or more in annual energy savings and dodge a $400 service call for a frozen coil or burnt-out dryer motor.

What’s That Sound? Ticks, Pops, and False Alarms

Here’s a counterintuitive fact: that metallic ticking your car makes right after you park and shut off the engine is perfectly normal. Family Handyman’s automotive experts recently broke it down: hot engine parts are contracting as they cool, and the tick-tick-tick is just metal shrinking. The same goes for when you’re driving over a pothole, but if you hear a steady tick while idling or accelerating, it’s often low oil or a valve lifter asking for help.

Your house speaks the same language. The evening pop from the deck boards? Wood responding to nighttime cooling. The faint ping from your water heater after someone showers? Normal thermal expansion of the tank’s metal shell. Even a sharp bang when the furnace kicks on or off is usually just ductwork flexing. These sounds are harmless once you know them. The real trick is knowing when a tick means trouble.

A ticking or tapping that never stops—especially near a gas appliance or inside a wall—deserves immediate attention. A persistent tick near your gas stove could be a small gas leak, and a crackling or buzzing outlet suggests electrical arcing that can start a fire. Another red flag: rhythmic clanking from your water heater. That could be sediment buildup causing the heating element to overheat and hammer. For under $200, a plumber can flush the tank and replace the anode rod, extending the unit’s life years beyond the warranty. Listening to your home after dark, when the neighborhood is quiet, lets you catalog these sounds. Once you learn what “normal” is, you’ll know exactly when to call in a pro.

What This Means for Your Home

Here are five concrete steps you can take this week to turn these May 2026 headlines into real savings and safety:

1. Swap or wash every filter you can reach. Pop in a new HVAC filter, scrub the range hood mesh, vacuum the dryer vent duct, and twist in a fresh water filter. Date them all with a marker.
2. Walk your outdoor space with a socket wrench. Tighten every bolt on swings, chairs, and tables. Check CPSC.gov for recalls on any hanging chair or swing you bought in the last 18 months.
3. Listen to your house after 10 p.m. For 10 minutes, stand still and catalogue any ticks, pops, or hums. Soft, intermittent sounds that fade are fine. Constant ticking or buzzing means it’s time for an inspection.
4. Plan a deck refresh. Even if you’re not building new, power-wash, sand, and seal your deck. This $100 afternoon project prevents splintered accidents and wood rot that lead to much bigger bills.
5. Clean behind the dryer. Slide the machine out, detach the vent hose, and vacuum out the lint. Reattach tightly and watch how much faster your next load dries—your energy meter will feel the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my HVAC filter in summer? Every 30 to 90 days, depending on whether you have pets or live in a dusty area. During extreme heat waves, check it monthly. If you hold the filter up to a lightbulb and can’t see through it, replace it on the spot.

Is it normal for a new deck to make popping noises at night? Yes. Wood expands in sunlight and contracts as temperatures drop, causing small pops and creaks. This sound is completely harmless unless you also notice sagging, splintering, or loose fasteners.

How do I know if my patio furniture has been recalled? Visit the CPSC website or SaferProducts.gov and search the brand name or model number. If you purchased a hanging swing from Costco between January 2025 and March 2026, check the recall notice immediately—some models have been linked to serious fall injuries.

Keep Learning

These in-depth guides from GreenSaveHome will help you act on what you just read:

• How to Weatherize Windows (DIY Guide)
• DIY Home Insulation Guide
• How to Air Seal Your Home (Complete Guide)

Bottom Line

Summer 2026 is the season to stop putting off the small stuff. A weekend spent wrestling a few filters, tightening some bolts, and listening to your home’s quiet rhythms can shave hundreds of dollars off your annual energy bills and keep your family far from the emergency room. Start with the HVAC filter—it’s the fastest, cheapest win in your whole house. From there, let that momentum carry you out to the deck, into the laundry room, and straight toward a smarter, safer home.

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