The beginning of the year is the ideal time to assess the condition of your home and plan to put some time and effort into maintenance. Not only will it help get you through the rest of the winter, but it will also give you a head start on spring cleaning and help to minimize repairs. Here’s an easy, three-step plan to help make 2012 in your home is as enjoyable and stress free as possible.
1. Put safety first — Help ensure your family’s safe throughout the year by taking these simple precautions:
- Above all, make an emergency plan and be sure that everyone in your family knows exactly what to do and whom to contact in case of an emergency.
- Examine smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to make sure they are working properly. Smoke detectors usually need to be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms every five years. (Check the alarms for their manufacture dates.) Batteries should be changed at least once a year.
- Be sure that you have the right number of alarms for your home and that they are installed in the proper locations. Smoke detectors should be placed in bedrooms, the kitchen (away from stove), living rooms and the top of stairways, while carbon monoxide alarms should be on every level of your home. Don’t neglect to install smoke detectors in basements, attached garages or attics.
2. Prep your kitchen for healthy eating — The post-holiday period is usually full of resolutions to eat healthier and cook more meals at home, so make sure your kitchen appliances are in ‘fighting’ form.
- Your oven probably got a workout over the holidays, so now’s the time to give it a little extra attention. Check and, if necessary, replace the interior light bulb, and be sure to replace any broken or worn knobs as well as any other missing or broken range or oven parts. You can avoid unnecessary heat loss by making sure that oven door hinges and gaskets are in good shape.
- Routine refrigerator maintenance includes cleaning condenser coils every three to six months (more often if you have pets) and cleaning and checking door seals and gaskets. For a more detailed how-to, check out our refrigerator maintenance video.
- Don’t forget to regularly replace the water filter if your refrigerator/freezer has a water dispenser or ice maker; and check the temperature of both the refrigerator and freezer to make sure they’re at the ideal temperatures: 38° to 42°F for the refrigerator, and 5°F for the freezer. You may also want to consider getting an appliance warranty, so an unexpected breakdown won’t cause too much stress or disruption to your family’s schedule.
3. Be kind to your budget (and the environment) — There are a number of ways to cut back on home-related expenses. One of the most effective is to lower your energy usage.
- Caulking and/or weatherstripping the gaps around windows and doors, floors and exterior walls are pretty inexpensive, simple projects that will definitely translate into energy savings.
- Inadequate insulation can really wallop energy bills in both the winter and summer — even a newer home may need additional insulation — so check around and be sure your home is properly insulated.
- The cost of water heating can account for 14 to 25 percent of the energy used in your home. By performing some simple water heater maintenance, including lowering the thermostat setting on your water heater by 10 degrees, you can save between 3 to 5 percent in energy costs. Homeowners with electric water heaters may want to consider installing a timer that turns it off at night or during your utility’s peak — translate expensive — demand periods.
Perhaps, the No. 1 way to ensure stress-free home maintenance is to have a TotalProtect Home Warranty in place. It will help you keep your home running smoothly, like a well-oiled machine, all year long.
For more tips throughout the year and to learn how a home warranty can give you peace of mind, check out TotalProtect on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosure
The information in this article is intended to provide guidance on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.
