Eight great tips for getting your home ready for Spring

1. Complete pre-season maintenance of outdoor power equipment and garden tools. Once the snow melts. Inspect snow blowers, lawnmowers, pressure washers, and other outdoor power and landscaping equipment for wear and damage. Replace worn or damaged parts with new components and clean the equipment. Stock up on degreasers, filters, spark plugs and other essentials.

2. Dedicate a few hours per weekend to organizing closets, cabinets, basements, attics and other storage locations.
The annual home organization work dubbed “spring cleaning” works wonders. However, avoid attempting several organization projects in one weekend. Instead, tackle smaller organization projects over many weekends for greater efficiency.

3. Clean refrigerator condenser coils. Dirty, dust-covered condenser coils require refrigerators to work harder to remove heat. A long-handled bristle brush and a vacuum make it easy to clean off the coils. Roll out the fridge and wipe it quickly, preventing unnecessary energy consumption.

4. Stock up on water filters.
The refrigerator ice maker and water dispenser filters should be replaced at least
every six months.

5. Check on emergency-prevention efforts. For example, replace the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test the batteries. Check the expiration dates on first-aid kits and fire extinguishers and replace them as needed. Review fire escape and other emergency plans.

6. Clean out dryer vents.
“Lint may be building up to dangerous levels in your dryer’s venting system,” said Hall. “ Dryer lint buildup restricts air flow and can result in a fire .” Therefore, the lint trap should be cleaned out after every load. Also, the dryer’s entire venting system must be cleaned out from the dryer to the outside. A dryer vent brush will assist with this.

7. Schedule professional furnace and air conditioner duct cleaning.
Cleaning the furnace and air conditioner ducts to help the air flow more freely. Air duct cleaning every five years is essential; homes with occupants who suffer from allergies may need this done more frequently. Yearly furnace cleans will save you thousands of dollars over the long haul.

8. Inspect home appliances for worn components and changes in performance. Take the time to inspect them and replace parts as needed to keep them running efficiently. Please pay attention to noise, the time required to complete their jobs, leaking and other performance changes.

Thank you,

Rod Forsythe
REALTOR®
Real Estate Professionals Inc.
Telephone: 403-813-3372
Email:        rod@rodforsythe.com
Web:         RodForsythe.com                           

The Rod Forsythe Group
202-5403 Crowchild Trail  NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 4Z1