Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about spring cleaning and maintenance. That’s right, the days are getting longer, the weather is warmer and you need to peel yourself off of that couch and make sure your home looks good and all of its components are in good working order. You owe it to yourself to provide your family with a clean home where everything works.
After a long, dark and cold winter, spring’s bright sun and warm breeze are a welcome breath of fresh air. But there is a downside. All of that sunlight shines on gutters that are full, roofs in need of repair and dead plants in the garden. Well, the time to take action is now. Bostons Locksmith, your locksmith serving Cambridge, offers these spring cleaning and maintenance tips.
Clean the Gutters
Grab the ladder out of the garage and clean the leaves and other debris from your gutters. The long winter with its rain, snow and wind means leaves and other debris has been flying all over the place and a lot of it is stuck in your gutters. Your gutters won’t work properly if they are clogged and this could cause problems in the future.
Check the Roof
Since you have the ladder out and you are near the roof anyway, you may as well check it out. Examine the roof shingles to see if there are any missing or damaged. You will want to replace missing or damaged shingles. You also want to check the flashing around plumbing vents, chimneys and skylights.
Service the A/C
You will want a qualified professional check your air conditioning unit. You can bet that in a few short months, the temperatures will soar and you will be glad you have an air-conditioned home. Only that might backfire if your air conditioner fails. An inspection will discover minor problems that can be fixed before they become big problems that are expensive to repair.
Trim Trees
Trees with branches too close to your home need to be trimmed. It is also a good idea to trim shrubbery or other plants too close to your air conditioning unit as they might be impeding air flow.
A trimmed landscape is also a safer landscape as it leaves burglars with fewer places to hide.
Check Power Equipment
You will be keeping very busy this summer mowing the lawn, gardening and doing other outdoor chores in the yard. However, it is really difficult to mow if the mower won’t start. The same holds true for the weed trimmer, chainsaw, rototiller and all of the other equipment you use in the summer.
It is best if you take the time to pull out all of your equipment and make sure everything is operational. And you should have your mower serviced and the blade sharpened.
Check Detectors
Spring is the ideal time to check all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are properly working. Since you are at it, you may as well go ahead and change out the batteries in them as well. If your detectors are more than 10 years old, they should be replaced.
Change the Filters
There are several filters in and around your home that should be changed in the spring. Let’s start with your HVAC system and them move on to the filter in your refrigerator, any other water filters you might have and don’t forget about the filter in the vacuum cleaner. That should be changed as well.
Check the Seals
Check the seals around the doors and windows of your home to see if there are leaks. If so, take the time to caulk them up and you will save money in energy costs this summer.
Drain the Water Heater
Spring is the best time of year to drain your water heater. We think so anyway. Sediment gets into your water heater and settles on the bottom, making your unit have to work harder and longer to keep the water hot. By draining it, you save money in energy costs and you ensure your water heater a long and productive lifespan.
Clean the Dryer Vent
Not all of that lint gets caught up in the lint trap. Some lint escapes the trap and winds up in the dryer vent. Take the time to clean them out as they will make it harder for your dryer to do its job and it creates a fire hazard.
Clean the Refrigerator Coils
The coils on your refrigerator get all dusty and dirty and keep your fridge from performing a peak level. Take the vacuum and clean off the coils for a better functioning unit.
Change the Locks
Since you are already checking your filters, detectors and roof, you may as well go ahead and check your locks as well. It has probably been a long time since you have paid any attention to the locks on your house. They may be updated and in good working order, or perhaps you might come across a problem.
Check all of the locks on your house, even the ones you rarely use to see if they stick or have other issues. If so, you can either have them repaired or replaced. If your locks are old, it is a good idea to get updated locks. Call Bostons Locksmith and we can help.
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