When decorating your home, of course you want to see the outward beauty. The gorgeous items you find at local shops, heirloom pieces that grandma gave you, and your unique collections. While this makes your home look beautiful and feel more like you, there are also some behind the scenes items that can make a difference in the way your home makes you feel. By this, I mean giving you peace of mind.
You may or may not know, my husband is a contractor. He has so much knowledge about anything and everything to do with a house. From remodeling and the fine details to the day-to-day maintenance of the structural elements of everything within the four walls of a home. So I asked him to give me the top five things he would tell any homeowner to make sure they checked every month. Here’s what I got:
Change furnace filters
The furnace filter doesn’t necessarily need to be changed monthly, however you should check it monthly so it becomes a habit. If you notice that it’s dirty, then it should be changed. Ideally you should replace the filter every 90 days but look at the filter’s manufacturer’s recommendation. Having a clean filter improves the air flow in your home as well as helps keep your furnace in good working order. A dirty filter can recirculate allergens into the air, cause your furnace to work harder than it needs to, and reduce energy efficiency.
Change smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitor batteries
This is something that is so easy to do but gets overlooked just as easily. Take a quick little walk around your home and check that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors are working correctly. Make sure that they are placed in the appropriate locations so everyone in your home can hear the alarms. Change the batteries as necessary.
Clean and inspect air vents
There are many types of vents throughout your home. Not only the return vents in your walls, the heating/cooling vents in the floor or ceiling, but also the vents in appliances. Make sure there’s adequate space around return vents and the heating/cooling vents so air is allowed to circulate well. Clean the vents using a vacuum to get to hard to reach places removing all dirt and dust. Appliance vents should be cleaned as well to keep them working efficiently.
Clean garbage disposal
You’ve more than likely heard that the kitchen sink is the dirtiest place in your entire house. You can help combat this by cleaning your garbage disposal. Be sure to disconnect from power first so there aren’t any accidents. Removing the rubber guard and cleaning out any food in the disposal should be your next step. Using simple cleaning supplies like baking soda, vinegar, and hot water will disinfect and get rid of the slime and smell. Clean the blades by grinding ice and salt.
Check drains and water faucets
Tubs, showers, and sinks are prime locations for a water leak to begin. Making sure that the drains are not clogged and clear from hair and debris is a good place to start. Also, look under the sink and anywhere pipes come into your home to check for leaks. One other item to mention is to change the water filter in your refrigerator or water softener as needed. This not only helps purify your drinking water, it also keeps your equipment working properly.
Many other tips
Of course, once I got Paul started, there was almost no stopping him! I’m always telling him what he knows about homes, most “regular” people don’t think about or even know where to start. Let me know if you’d be interested in learning more about small home repairs or upkeep. I’ll see if he’ll let me pick his brain again.
