February Home Maintenance Tips for Your East Texas Home

February Home Maintenance Tips for Your East Texas Home

February Home Maintenance Tips for Your East Texas Home

This has been the most incredible “winter” weather. Evidently global warming is alive and well in East Texas. The time for Spring cleaning is just around the corner and summer is hot on its trail. Make sure your home is in tiptop shape with these February home maintenance tips:

1. HOSES & EXTERIOR PIPES— Even though this has been a freakishly mild winter, we are likely still in for a few cold spells, so be sure to keep your pipes and spigots wrapped until after the last freeze of the season.
2. BATTERY OPERATED – Check the battery in your smoke detectors. It’s an easy task and can save your life (not to mention your sanity if the battery gets low and starts beeping!) Also, if you have gas appliances, invest in a carbon monoxide detector and get it installed. It’s a smart $40 investment that could save your life and your house.
3. 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! (I know, it sounds so easy…)
4. SPARKLY WINDOWS – Now is a great time to get a jump on some super early 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 be sure to read the drying instructions too (you don’t want crispy, mangled linens).
5. FILTER CHANGE—You can do this while you wait for your leftovers to heat up in the microwave! 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.
6. LET’S VENT—If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your dryer vent, it’s time to bite the bullet. Clogged dryer vents are a fire hazard and are easily cleaned out. It is also a great time to check that the dryer is venting properly—when the weather is chilly 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 should 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.

Home maintenance is easy to fall behind on, especially in winter months. However, it’s never too late to pick it back up and 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!
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.

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