It is that time of year again…Daylight Savings Time will end on November 4th, 2018.
Changing your clock is not the only important thing that you should do around your home this time of Year.
Here are 10 other things that you should do to get ready for the winter
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Test your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors & Check the age of your Detectors
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “Three of every five deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%).
The U.S. Fire Administration suggests testing your Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors every month and changing the battery at least once a year.
You may be thinking, but my Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors are hard-wired. Hard-wired detectors contain a battery backup that should be replaced at least once a year.
The U.S. Fire Administration also suggests that you replace the entire Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector after 10 years.
If your Detectors are older than 10 years or if it is getting close to the 10-year mark, we strongly encourage you to think about replacing your Detectors.
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Test Your Outdoor Lighting & Post Light
When guests come over to your home during the winter months, you want to make sure that your outdoor lighting is working so that they can see as they walk around.
Additionally, wouldn’t you rather replace a light bulb that is not working now when it is a little warmer out instead of having to bundle up on a cold, windy day in January to change a light bulb?
If you have a post light, you want to make sure it is working as well.
During the summer months, it is not uncommon for the electric to your post light to get hit when you are landscaping on edging. It is easier to repair the post light and run a new electric line before the ground freezes. Once the ground freezes, you will need to wait for Spring.
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Fill Up your Windshield Washer Fluid in Your Car
Before you know it, snow will be falling, and the roads will be covered with salt. You don’t want to be without Windshield Washer Fluid during these times so be sure to check yours today!
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Check the Air Filter on Your HVAC System and Have your Furnace Serviced
According to Energy Star, “As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort.”
It is recommended that you check your filter every month and at minimum change it every three months.
If you can’t remember the last time you changed the Air Filter, it might be a good idea to check it now!
Along with changing the air filters on your HVAC system, you should have your furnace serviced.
It is recommended that your furnace be serviced on an annual basis. Not only is this annual service a safety check, it is also a preventative maintenance check…Wouldn’t you rather catch that something major is wrong with your furnace now instead of having your furnace stop working when it is 20 degrees out?
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Have your Chimney Checked and Cleaned
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America…”Your chimney–and the flue that lines it–adds architectural interest to your home, but its’ real function is to carry dangerous flue gases from your fireplace, wood stove or furnace safely out of your home.”
On average, there are about 22,000 Chimney fires each year. You can help to prevent a fire by having your Chimney checked and cleaned each year.
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Clean the Debris out of Your Gutters
The falling leaves and pine needles need somewhere to go and unfortunately, more often than not, they end up in places where you do not want them…including your gutters.
While your gutters may not seem like an important part of your home, they protect your roof, walls and foundations. A clogged gutter can cause water damage to your roof, and/or the interior or exterior of your home.
It is recommended that you clean your gutters every four to six months. Fall gutter maintenance is the most important and should be done after all the leaves are off the trees or most of the leaves are off the trees.
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Reverse the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan
During the spring and summer months, you want your ceiling fans blades moving counter-clockwise in order to help cool down the rooms.
When fall and winter roll around, you want to reverse the direction of the fan blades to rotate clockwise. This helps to pull the warm air down from the ceiling.
**If you tend to be warm all the time, you may want to leave the ceiling fan blades moving in a counter-clockwise rotation.**
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Rotate You Mattress
Do you remember the last time that you rotated your mattress? If not, now would be a good time.
According to Mattress.com, your mattress “should be rotated, on average, every 3 months.”
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Vacuum out Your Dryer Vent and Ducts
According to the US Fire Administration, “2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.”
By Vacuuming out your Dryer Vents and Ducts, you can help to decrease the chance of a fire.
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Clean Your Oven
Before you know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here. During this time, you have enough going on and do not have time to Clean Your Oven.
Why not do it now, in preparation for the Holidays, so that you have one less thing to worry about.