Interior fall maintenance
With the cooler weather we turn out attention to spending more time indoors. Now is the time to do some preventative maintenance and make sure our home is cozy, ready and protected from the elements.
Here are some areas to focus on. If you need referrals to any professional to help you with these tasks, check out my vendor list on MarilynEmeryHomes.com
Cleaning
Some of these are aesthetic-- some are functional.
Window and Screens:
Remove the screens, clean and store them. Removing the screens allows for more light and solar warmth and decreases the chance of snow being trap and moisture building up. It’s also just nice to look out through clean window.
Refrigerator coils:
Condenser coils are exposed, not in a sealed casing, and therefore vulnerable to dust buildup. Dirty coils force a fridge to work harder keeping food cold, resulting in higher energy costs and a reduced lifespan. This is one case where this is time well spent. Coils can be along the base of the fridge or on the back. It is best to pull the refrigerator away from the wall, remove any debris and vacuum the floor and coils.
Chimney and wood or pellet stoves:
The National Fire Protection Association recommends a yearly chimney inspection to check for soundness and cleanliness. How often you have to clean the chimney depends on how much you use your fireplace or wood burning stove. A rule of thumb is clean it after 50 uses and the creosote should be less than 1/8 inch thick. If you use a wood or pellet stove be sure to also have the pipe cleaned.
Ceiling Fans:
Clean the blades and grills on the fan. Also change the direction to have the fan blowing downward, (especially in rooms with high ceilings) to force warm air from the ceiling into the room.
Range Hood:
Cleaning the hood isn’t just for appearances. Some fans don’t vent the air outside but instead recirculate filtered air If yours is the latter, it is important to remove the filter and clean it on a regular basis. The filter gets the brunt of the grease from cooking. Remove the filter—most have a metal loop that allows you to pull it out. This can be a messy job so you may wear gloves for this part.
Fill your sink with hot water, about a teaspoon of anti-grease dish soap and ¼ cup of baking soda, then fully submerge the filter.
Let the filter soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then get your scrubbing brush and tackle the filter with firm brushing strokes. Don’t use too much pressure, which could damage the filter, but don’t be afraid to be vigorous. Drain and refill the sink with new soapy water as needed. When the filter is clean again, rinse it off and dry it thoroughly with a cloth.
Check and Service:
To keep you and your family comfortable and safe, check and make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working and there are fresh batteries. In addition, check fire extinguishers and make sure they are sufficiently charged and in good condition--if not replace them.
Now is the time to have your HVAC system services and cleaned. Be sure to have the humidifier (if you have one) drained, cleaned and checked. You don’t want to wake up on a cold winter’s day to no heat and not being able to get it serviced for a day or two. Preventive maintenance pays off to help you stay comfortable in your home. If you use window AC units they should be removed, cleaned and stored for the season.
If your water heater is warm to the touch it is wasting heat and money. Wrapping it with fiberglass insulation will save you money. You can pick these up at just about any hardware store.
While we are on the topic of plumbing be sure to turn off the supply to your outdoor faucets, open them to drain them and drain and store your hoses.
One last task is to do a check around the foundation and make sure to seal any cracks or areas where critters could enter. This includes areas where electrical or plumbing enters the house. It only takes an opening about the size of a dime for a mouse to make it’s way into your home for a cozy winter’s stay.