While it’s important to care for your home year-round, summer’s long hours and warm temperatures are two reasons why it’s the perfect time to get to work on that “Honey-Do” List that’s always growing. Summer’s pleasant weather makes it a great season to tend to maintenance both inside and outside your home. To help you get started on upkeeping your home this summer, we’re sharing four tips that should be on your checklist:

1. Test your alarms.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s smart to change your smoke detectors’ batteries every six months. Functioning alarms could save your life, and testing them takes a matter of minutes. To test an alarm, push the test button on the smoke and carbon monoxide detector and then wait for the alarm to sound. If you don’t hear any noise or it’s quieter than usual, replace the batteries.

2. Inspect your air conditioners.

It almost always seems like your air conditioning unit stops working when you need it the most. Whether you have window air conditioning units or central air, you ought to inspect them at the start of summer. Having a professional annually inspect your HVAC unit ensures that it is working properly, resulting in cool air properly circulating throughout your house. It’s also best practice to clean and replace your window units’ filters every year for optimal functionality.

3. Clean your gutters.

Summertime means it’s time to remove all the fallen leaves, debris, and standing water stuck in your gutters. Instead of letting build-up in your gutters attract mosquitos and other pests, use a small plastic scoop or garden trowel to get rid of dirt and debris. Afterward, flush your out gutters with a hose and be sure to fix any twisted metal. Clean gutters will direct water away from your house, ensuring that it doesn’t do damage to your foundation or roof.

4. Wash your windows.

There are few things as satisfying as sparkling clean windows! It’s best to wait until a slightly cooler day to wash your windows to avoid them drying prematurely before thoroughly wiping the cleaning solution away. We recommend stocking up on microfiber cloths, squeegees, and heavy-duty cleaning products to combat the pollen and sap on the windows’ exteriors as well as their interiors. Drying your windows with a microfiber cloth will help prevent streaks and leave your windows nice and clear.

Get started on your home maintenance this summer by following these four tips!  In addition to being a great time for maintenance, summer is also a fantastic season to renovate, remodel, or refresh your home! If you’re looking to update or expand your living space, give G.P. Harris Construction a call at (717) 454-7870. We’d love to hear what you’re thinking and help you bring your vision to reality!