February Home Maintenance Tips
February Home Maintenance Tips
February Home Maintenance Tips
Spring cleaning is not far away and summer is right behind it. Make sure your home is in tip top shape with these February home maintenance tips:
- LET’S VENT—When is the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? If you can’t remember, it’s time to get it done. Clogged dryer vents are a fire hazard and are easily cleaned out. This is also a great time to check that the dryer is venting properly—when the weather is cold enough that you can see your breath, walk outside to make sure that you can see the hot air coming from the dryer vent. It will resemble fog and it smell pretty clean too! If your exhaust is not visible, it could be a sign that the heat is not escaping properly and needs to be remedied.
- BATTERY OPERATED – I may seem like a broken record with this one, but I have to remind you to check your smoke detectors! It’s easy and can save your life (not to mention your sanity if the battery gets low and starts beeping like crazy!) Also, if you have gas appliances, install a carbon monoxide detector. It’s a smart investment that could save your life and your house.
- SPARKLY WINDOWS – It’s not spring yet, but it’s never too late to start a bit o’ spring cleaning! Use window cleaner to clean the windows from the inside and dust all blinds. Take down any washable curtains and wash them. Washing the curtains will help cut down on allergens that the fabric has been collecting. Be sure to check the laundry instructions on the curtains—not all types are washable and especially read the drying instructions (you don’t want crunchy linens).
- FILTER CHANGE—This is one of the easiest things you can do to prolong the life of your HVAC system—and it takes less than a minute! Changing out your air filter in your HVAC system will help your system run more efficiently, save you money and help cut down on pesky airborne allergens.
- ORGANIZE IT—The holidays are over and you likely have more stuff than you did 2 months ago. Let’s face it; we all have too much stuff. It’s time to organize and purge! If you haven’t used it in 6 months, do you really need it? Tackle organization one drawer or one closet at a time, so it doesn’t seem overwhelming. If you organize one drawer (or shelf) a day, you’ll be completely organized and de-cluttered in just a few months!
Home maintenance isn’t the most fun thing and it is sometimes hard to stay on top of it in the cold months. However, it’s never too late to get back on track. A little maintenance goes a long way and will save you many future headaches and big money in the long run. A well-maintained home is a happy home and a happy home means happy homeowners!
Lisa E. Priest is an East Texas Area REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.
