When summer rays are shining, it is tempting to grab your book and relax in the hammock. But before you do, take some time during a cooler summer morning to take care of some miscellaneous chores around the house.

Keep Your Gutters Free from Debris

Inspect your gutters and remove any debris. Here in Lancaster County, flash thunderstorms are common, and your house can suffer from water damage as a result of debris and water accumulating in your gutters

Replace your Air Conditioner Filter

To keep clean air flowing throughout your home, the filter on your furnace/air conditioner should be check monthly and replaced every 1-3 months, depending on how dirty it is.

Clean Your Garage
August is a great time to organize your garage and get rid of the clutter and make room for the after-school sports equipment. Also keep in mind that during the summer, temperatures can rise to new highs every day. Heat-sensitive materials such as paints and solvents should be stored in a cool, dry place or, if no longer needed, disposed of properly.

Clean Bathroom Vents

When was the last time you cleaned your bathroom vent? If it’s been a year or more, chances are there is plenty of dust that’s collected there. Take the vent off and give it a good scrub.

Clean Ceiling Fan Blades

The ceiling fan is another dust collector. An easy trick to cleaning them (without dust-bunnies falling all over the place) is to use a pillow case. Insert the blade into the case, as you would a pillow and gently wipe down the blade – allowing the dust to collect on the inside of the pillow case.

Examine for Pests and Insects
Inspect your deck and other wooden areas for termites. For humid climates, like ours, watch for puddles around your yard and other standing water – which is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes (and the West Nile virus). Check your lawn for holes created by moles, chipmunks or other furry creatures. Finally, examine the eaves around your home for hornets’ nests. Depending on the type of insect or pest, you may want to consult a professional for extermination.

When it comes to preserving our natural resources, conservation is always on our minds. Here we offer a list of small changes you can make to save water around the house and in the garden.

Around the House

•  Check faucets and pipes for leaks. According to EarthEasy, a small drip from a leaking faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day.
• Laundry – Use Correct Setting. Ideally, you’ll want to run a full load of laundry every time, but when you don’t have a full load, adjust your settings accordingly.
• Dishwasher. Some people set their dishwasher timer to run daily, during the overnight hours, but if your dishwasher isn’t full, you’re just wasting water. Waiting to run your dishwasher when it is full will save water and energy, not to mention wear and tear on your plates and utensils.
• Toilet aren’t wastebaskets. Every time you flush a cigarette, tissue or other small piece of trash down the toilet, you are flushing gallons of water with it as well. While Federal plumbing standards specify that new toilets can only use 1.6 gallons per flush, older toilets can use 3.5, 5 or even 7 gallons of water per flush.
• Change your habits. Don’t leave the faucet running when you brush your teeth, shave your face or wash dishes. Instead, partially fill the sink with water to rinse your razor or wash dishes.

In the Garden

• Install a rain collection system. Use natural rainwater for your yard and garden, and lower your water bill. A roof area of only 1,000 square feet can provide as much as 600 gallons of water during a one-inch rainfall. (Source: EarthEasy)
• Mulch around trees and plants. A thick layer (2-4 inches) of mulch not only will prevent the growth of weeds, but it will also hold in moisture that plants, trees and shrubs need – reducing how often you need to water.
• Pick your watering time wisely. The best time to water your plants and garden is early in the morning because the loss of water to evaporation is reduced.
• Plant drought-resistant vegetation. Many lovely plants thrive in drought-like conditions; your local garden center can help steer you to varieties best for your climate. Another option to help save time and water is to replace your perennials with native plants.
• Use alternatives to clean. Instead of using the hose to clean your driveway, sidewalk or patio, pull out the broom between Mother Nature’s showers. A broom will get those pesky cobwebs off the house, too.

June is a good time to take care of a few miscellaneous chores around the house to detect any minor issues and potentially help you avoid costly repairs later.

Schedule air conditioning maintenance. If you haven’t done so already, contact your HVAC professional to have your air conditioning unit looked at and cleaned. Peak season is here and you’ll want your unit running at top efficiency to keep the inside comfortable.

Change your air filter. One of the key elements to keeping your air conditioning unit running well is a clean air filter. Filters should be changed every 30 days, particularly during peak usage months.

Schedule your chimney sweep. Spring and summer are the best times to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. That way, if any repairs are needed, there is plenty of time to get them done before the cold weather returns.

Reset automatic timers. If you have timers on exterior lights or lawn irrigation systems, you may want to adjust them slightly to account for the longer daylight of summer. Also, if you plan to go away for vacation, make sure you also set timers for interior lights.

Clean your dryer vent and check your washer hoses. The lint trap doesn’t catch it all, so periodically clean out your dryer vent to keep it running at top efficiency and reduce the chances of dryer fires. While you are at it, look at your washing machine hoses to make sure they aren’t cracked. If they show signs of wear, replace them to avoid an increased chance of leaks or bursts.

Get more Home Tips here.