Summer Traditional Yurt Maintenance

Traditional Mongolian yurts are not only unique and beautiful structures, but they also provide a comfortable dwelling space. To ensure their longevity and optimize their comfort, proper maintenance is crucial, especially during the summer months. In this list, we will explore essential summer maintenance tips for traditional Mongolian yurts in North America.

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1. Inspect the Canvas

The outer canvas is exposed to the elements 365 days a year and tends to wear sooner than other yurt parts, especially in humid climates. Carefully examine the canvas cover of your yurt for wear and tear. Look for holes, rips, or mould growth. For small holes or rips, utilize a canvas patch kit to repair them. If you’ve noticed stains or mould, try to pressure wash, and/or spray the areas with bleach or vinegar solutions. Note: Avoid canvas patterns and felts with bleach solution.

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Natural Antifungal Recipe

• 300ml of white vinegar

• 200ml of water

• 5 drops of essential oil (optional)

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If your canvas is showing significant wear, contact us about the canvas replacement discount (applicable for up to 10 years after the initial purchase of Groovy Yurt).

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2. Ventilation

Proper ventilation is essential to prevent the yurt from becoming uncomfortably hot during summer. Luckily, Mongolian yurts remain cool in the summer mainly due to the felt insulation and cotton-based canvas that repels the outside sun and heat. A natural cooling airflow can be created by opening the toono and raising the side covers.  This millenary all-natural air conditioning works extremely well. Note: If your yurt is still too hot for comfort, consider adding a small fan or solar-powered a/c).

Not only will installing mosquito netting keep out pesky bugs, but it will also help to ventilate your yurt during the summer months. You can add netting to your toono, lower wall and windows. You can purchase toono mosquito netting from us. For doors and windows, we recommend purchasing nets sold with magnets; they’re easy to adapt to the required dimensions.

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3. Outdoor Surroundings

Continue to monitor and trim any vegetation or tree branches that may touch or rub against your yurt. This prevents potential damage to the structure and reduces the risk of fire hazards.

If possible, place your yurt in a well-ventilated area to ensure the yurt is getting as much sun and wind exposure as possible. Shade is great, but this could exacerbate a humidity or dampness problem. Since the yurt is highly breathable, sun exposure should not mean it’s going to be hotter. It will, however, help to keep the yurt dry! Open grassland is to be preferred to the midst of a forest.  

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4. Pest Control

Monitor your yurt for signs of pests, such as rodents and insects. Seal any openings or cracks that may serve as entry points.

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For rodent prevention, try:

• Roll wire around your platform and the bottom of felts

• Cats or mouser-type dogs

• Environmentally friendly chemicals

• Elevating the platform to avoid direct links from the ground

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For moth prevention, try:

• Cedar blocks, balls, hangers, shingles or boxes (sand the cedar every few months to refresh the scent)

• Moth-repellent sachets (try making your own!)

• Parasitic wasps

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5. Check the Structure

Thoroughly inspect the walls, toono, windows, door, platform& huns of your yurt for any signs of water damage or decay. Repair or replace any damaged parts promptly. All exposed wood parts like the door and toono should be varnished at least once per year.  

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6. Regular Maintenance

Throughout the summer, continue to perform regular maintenance tasks. Check if your ropes are still tight and if your canvas and skirt need adjustment – you can stop urgh straps from vibrating in high winds by twisting them a few times. If your yurt is to become damp or wet for any reason, control the humidity by starting a good fire in the stove to dry it inside out.

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In conclusion...

Proper summer maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity and comfort of traditional Mongolian yurts in North America (and elsewhere in the world). By following these maintenance tips, including regular cleaning, inspecting the canvas and structure, optimizing ventilation, and addressing issues promptly, you can fully enjoy your authentic dwelling throughout the summer season and preserve its unique beauty for years to come.

Happy yurting!