Small opening in your doors and windows can drain money right out of your wallet.  Weatherizing strips are easy to install and relatively inexpensive.  Window plastic will also prevent warm air from leaking out of your home and homes with older windows are more susceptible.

If your home has an air exchange unit you need to adjust the setting for winter conditions.  Your home manual should have the settings, but if you didn’t get one or have misplaced it over the years, you can pull the manufactures name/model off the system and do your research by visiting their website.

Have your furnace checked!  Our local utility company has a service plan for many appliances and different systems in your home, of course for an additional charge, but replacing a furnace would of cost us way more then the $99 we pay for the yearly maintenance check they preformed.

These are a few things to get you started.

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All Purpose Surface Cleaner-
Mix together equal parts salt and white vinegar.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner-
Sprinkle baking soda and vinegar in the toilet bowl, let it sit for a few minutes then scrub with the toilet brush.

Oven Cleaner-
Mix baking soda and water into a paste. Apply to oven once you have wiped up all the grease and loose food. Let sit for a few minutes and then scrub.

Window Cleaner-
3 tbs vinegar to 1 qt water. You can buy spray bottles at dollar stores or just recycle your old one.

Disinfectant-
3 tbs. liquid soap, 2 cups water and 30 drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil has antiseptic properties.

Tub/Shower/Tile Cleaner-
1 2/3 cups baking soda
½ cup liquid soap
½ cup water
2 tbs vinegar (add last)

Dishwasher agent
Sprinkle your dishes with baking soda. You will need less dishwasher detergent.

Floor Cleaners (vinyl type floors)-
1 cup vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Carpet deodorizer-
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet then vacuum.

Hand Moisturizer-
Warm a small bowl of olive oil, soak hands. If necessary add sugar to exfoliate.
* As with any new product/ingredients you use, test on a small concealed section first. *

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Since each home is unique with any given age or style some of these tips may not apply to your home. Keep in mind that preventative maintenance is cheaper then dealing with a home crisis that can cost you thousands of dollars to repair. This list should get you started. These are tips and are by no means a full list of all home maintenance activities, refer to your homeowners manual or manufactures instructions for specifics.

Winter-

• Check your smoke & carbon monoxide alarms. (multiple times per year) Replace your batteries twice a year.
• Inspect your heating system and clean/replace if necessary.
• Inspect your plumbing. Check for leaks.
• Check caulking around sinks, showers and bathtubs.
• Clean out your clothes dryer vent. Vacuum cleaner attachments work great for getting deep into the machine. (multiple times per year)
• Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher.
• If your home has multiple levels check your vents. Close all upstairs vents as hot air rises. In the Spring open all upstairs vents and close the vents downstairs.

Spring-

• Take down storm windows and clean them. Put up your window screens. A good way to clean out your screens is your handy hair dryer.
• Inspect your basement/crawl space and attic for water, dampness and insect/animal invasion.
• Tune up your lawn equipment. Replace spark plugs, check filters, change oil and lubricate all moving parts, inspect belts, battery and sharpen blades.
• Inspect your air conditioner, clean.
• Clean out your gutters and downspouts. (Spring & Fall)
• Examine door/window hardware, lubricate if necessary.
• Assess your attic vents for proper ventilation.

Summer-

• Check your septic tank, pump as needed. Some states have requirements on how long you can go in between pumps.
• Clean the coils on your fridge and freezer. Empty water catcher, located underneath most models.
• Inspect your driveway and other concrete structures around your house. Repair if needed.
• Inspect all wooded structures. Take a hammer; you will probably have nail pops that will need to be pushed back in. If this happens yearly in the same spot replace with screws. Check for rot and insect infestation.
• Clean and apply weatherproofing materials to your deck/fence.

Fall-

• Inspect your weather stripping and caulk. To do this you will need a partner. Grab the hair dryer and have one person stand outside while the other is inside. Go along all seems and check for air flow that isn’t suppose to be there.
• Inspect your exterior roof, vents and chimney. Repair as needed. If you see anything unusual call a contractor.
• Inspect the entire outside of your home for breaks, openings and/or cracks. Call a contractor if you spot something abnormal.
• Set up your inspection for your heating system. Have your ductwork cleaned.
• Pressure wash the outside of your home and driveway.
• Clean up leaves/branches from your roof and gutters, and of course your lawn.
• Remove window air conditioners or cover with plastic.
• Drain your outside hoses, turn water off.
• Clean your humidifiers and replace filters if needed. (multiple times per year)
• Check your automatic garage doors. They should reverse in the event of an emergency. (multiple times per year)
• Any outside trees, shrubs or vines should be cut back if they are close to the house.
• Drain 2 gallons of water from the water heater to remove sediment from the bottom of the tank. (multiple times per year)
• Check the main electrical panel for rust or watermarks. Breakers should be turned off and on to make sure none have seized. If your panel is warm or smells, call an electrician immediately.
• Fireplaces should be cleaned and checked annually.
• Check flashing on vents, chimneys and skylights.
• Check chimney for damage caps and/or loose mortar. Inspect flue. Get chimney professionally cleaned as recommended in your homeowners manual.

Most furnaces should be checked and cleaned annually by a professional.

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The National Weather Service issues warnings. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

Only when a storm has safely passed can you go out to assess any damage. A tree that has fallen on your house is pretty easy to assess, but remember hail and straight-line winds can damage a homes structure and a professional contractor should be called to find out if you have any damage to your roof and siding. These guys know what to look for and are helpful when you need to file a claim and work with your insurance company.

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-They also should have Insurance.

-Car detailing. This sounds miniscule but if a contractor is legit why wouldn’t they drive a detailed car?

-Read the small print in the contracts. If something sounds weird, ask the contractor to explain what this means.

-Signing contracts on the spot when someone knocks on your door. This sales tactic can leave you open to hiring the contractor before you even have time to check them out.

-Do your research. Check your local government agencies for information, call your local Better Business Bureau and ask for referrals, or pictures of previous jobs.

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Here you will find all kinds of usefull tips, tricks and just plain good advice on how to take care of your home.

Check out the yearly maintenance schedule article.

and more to come…

- The Storm Guy

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