With the summer so far turning out to be something of a damp squib, some people may be spending rather less time than they hoped in the conservatory enjoying the sunshine. Others, however, might spend quite a bit of time in there because at least it is light, even if the weather makes actually going outside a less-than-enticing prospect.
Given a hot and sunny day, anyone inside the conservatory will value having the skylight in place to allow some of the heat to seep away and prevent it getting too hot in there. But if there are any problems with it, now is the ideal time to get them fixed.
Common problems with skylights include leaks, which can have a range of possible causes. Errors in installation may mean there are little gaps that should not be there. There might be problems with the sealant, or there might be a crack caused by falling debris in a winter storm. Either way, if there is a gap, the water will find it every time it rains.
Another issue may be condensation, which is usually the result of poor insulation or inefficient ventilation, while sometimes the problem may be more superficial; the skylight is dirty and needs a clean, or it is important to remove debris that has accumulated on the outside before they can cause any damage or block air vents.
The latter problem is most likely to occur in autumn and winter when leaves are falling and harsh weather produces lots of flying debris, but summer is not immune to bad weather.
However, there are good reasons to prioritise fixing the skylight at this time of year. Fixing the problem in summer does mean you can enjoy the conservatory at the time of year when you will be in there the most. A clean skylight means you can enjoy the sunlight more clearly, while repairing leaks does mean you can make the most of the light on wet days.
Also, if you keep plants in there, it is important to make sure the microclimate is just what they need it to be, which a conservatory that is too leaky, too hot or too humid may not provide.
Some folk may have a different approach to skylights, by looking to cover them to keep the harsh sun out when it does get very hot. That might be appropriate for a skylight in the house when you want to keep the temperature down in a room or prevent excessive sun shining on something that might fade, but you should never try to do this in a conservatory.
On the one hand, there is already plenty of other glass through which the hot sun can shine, but any covering will inhibit the capacity of the skylight to act as a means of ventilation.
If the sun does seem excessive, the best thing to do is to get the experts to lay a tinted coating on top, acting the same way a pair of shades would to limit UV exposure. This way, you can still enjoy the sun without preventing your skylight from doing exactly what it was designed for.