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A Little Love Goes a Long Way…
Rather than spend time and energy on home repairs later, spend a few hours this spring looking for trouble before it starts. Here are a few of the key areas in your home that deserve attention this time of year.
Check Out Your Heater and Air Conditioner
Check Out Your Heater and Air Conditioner
It’s dirty work keeping your home’s air clean. Your HVAC system accumulates a lot of dust over the winter that can clog and choke filters, impairing system performance and reducing overall efficiency. Change furnace filters every quarter and return-air filters monthly. Turn on your air-conditioning system in the early spring before you need it, because HVAC repair response times are better in March than in July.
Remember Your Roof, Gutters and Downspouts
Look at your roof and examine it for loose or damaged shingles. If more than 20% of your shingles are damaged, it might be time to re-roof. Homeowner’s insurance usually covers damage caused by high winds, hail or falling tree limbs. Also, clean your gutters and downspouts, and repair any holes you find. Keep in mind that downspouts should direct rainwater at least five feet from your foundation.
Remember Your Roof, Gutters and Downspouts
Look at Your Refrigerator, Water Heater, Clothes Dryer and GFCI Outlets
It’s easy to group together tasks to keep your appliances in good working order. Designate a day to vacuum the clothes dryer exhaust duct to remove all accumulated lint, replace plastic ducts with metal ones to avoid fire hazards, and clean your refrigerator’s coils. Also, set aside some time to examine your water heater for signs of rust and corrosion. Finally, test your GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets – they’re the ones with “test” and “reset” buttons – to ensure they are operating properly.
Don’t Forget Fireplaces, Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Detectors.
Don’t Forget Fireplaces, Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Detectors.
Have a professional chimney sweep inspect and clean your fireplace this spring so it will be ready next fall. This is also a great time to check your fire
extinguisher. Make sure it’s filled, ready and accessible just in case a cookout goes wrong. Speaking of fire safety, now is also the time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.
Remember, the cheapest repairs are the ones you don’t have to make. Take advantage of the gorgeous spring weather to do these tasks to keep your home in great condition!
