If you didn’t tackle your seasonal homeowner maintenance, tackle it now! The great thing about Daylight Savings is it happens twice a year, which makes it an excellent reminder for mundane homeowner tasks. On Sunday, November 7th, the clocks will fall back at 2 a.m., and Daylight Savings is over. Take 15 minutes to cross these homeowner tasks off your list before then.
Homeowner Task #1: Check Fire Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
These safety devices are ones you don’t want the batteries to run out on. Take 10 minutes to test them and replace batteries if needed. Grab a ladder and some headphones in case you accidentally trigger the alarm.
Homeowner Task #2: Flip Your Mattress
While you may have heard some myth about flipping your mattress at some point in its life, it holds true! Flipping your mattress will help extend its lifespan. It can be outdated, though, depending on the type of mattress you have. A newer mattress with memory foam won’t need a complete flip, but a 180-degree rotation will be a good change. With a classic spring mattress, flip and rotate it, so all sides of the mattress wear evenly.
Homeowner Task #3: Clean Your Coffee Machine
Optimize the early morning sunlight with a nice clean coffee machine to make you better-tasting coffee! If you have a Keurig, be sure to research the instructions or follow them in the manual. For a traditional drip coffee, use equal parts water and white vinegar to run through your coffee maker. Once half of it is brewed, turn off the machine and let the liquid sit for about an hour. The vinegar will help remove oily residue from previous brews. Then turn it back on to finish the cycle and run it with water until the vinegar smell is gone.
Homeowner Task #4: Clean Your Furnace Filters and AC Vents
As the weather gets colder, you’ll go from blasting the AC to blasting the heat. Now is the perfect time to check on your AC and furnace. Once the furnace filter is cleaned, dust your heating vents and radiators while you’re there too.
Homeowner Task #5: Clean Out the Dryer Vent
Did you know that there are almost 3,000 fires started in the fall and winter months? Prevent a fire in your home by cleaning out your dryer vent ductwork and the lint filter after every load.
Homeowner Task #6: Stock Up the Medicine Cabinet
This task isn’t on too many homeowner maintenance lists, but it should be! You should throw away any expired medicine and stock up on medication to help you through the cold and flu season on the off chance that you get caught with one by surprise.
Homeowner Task #7: Clean the Gutters
By now, hopefully, all the leaves should have fallen. Clean out your gutters before the wet winter months come to our area. If you don’t clean out the gutters, it can cause clogged gutters which could cause water to pool that can damage the foundation of your home and create icicles.
If you want to be a homeowner this fall or winter, contact me! Call me at (512) 563-5550 or email me at adrienne@hughes-and-company.com.
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