Get Ready for Spring

Now that we are coming to the end of winter, it’s a great time to start thinking about how to prepare your home for the spring season. So, fling open those windows, break out the scrub brushes and let’s get busy!

Display some greenery – Not only do live plants brighten a room, they can also improve the air quality indoors. While there’s a wide variety to choose from, some of the best purifiers include English Ivy, Peace Lily, Spider Plant and Chinese Evergreen. In addition to internet and library resources, talking to your local nursery / florist is a great way to figure out which plants are right for your home.

Replace your air filter(s) – The air filter is what helps to keep dirt and debris from entering your home through your HVAC system, allowing air to flow more freely. If too much dirt builds up in the filter, your system takes more effort to cool your home, resulting in higher energy bills. Read your product’s recommendation for filter replacement frequency as well as required size.
 

Check the screens – This is the perfect time of year to evaluate the screens on your windows. Keeping windows open gives your AC a break, and lets out some of that stale winter air. In addition to basic cleaning, also inspect the screens for any signs of damage and replace them as soon as possible to keep bugs out.
 

Test your home’s detectors – Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors are some of the most valuable assets to your home, and ensuring they are work properly should be one of your top priorities. It is recommended that you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors once a month and replace their batteries twice a year. A good rule to follow is to change the batteries when you change your clocks.

Get fresh air flowing – Now that you’ve checked all those screens, you can leave the windows open and get some fresh air circulating through your home. In addition to letting Mother Nature do her job, why not give her a hand with the use of some ceiling fans. If you already have some, dust them off and rotate the fans to run counterclockwise. By changing up the rotation of the blades, you allow the fan to push the hot air downwards to mix with the cooler air below.
 

Brighten up your living spaces – Now is the perfect time of year to give your home a more light, spring feeling. Here are some simple ways to achieve that goal without breaking the bank: 

• Rearrange your furniture, sometimes a new perspective really opens things up.
• Switch out your accent pillows to something brighter
• Put out lighter linens
• Clean the curtains
• Put blankets in the dryer with a softener and no heat
• Fluff up your pillows
• Deep clean your carpets or polish your floors  

Get your roof ready – Now that the snow has melted away, it’s the perfect time to take a good, close look at your roof. Inspect it thoroughly for any cracked, broken or missing shingles. And while you’re up there, make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and working properly. 

Clean your refrigerator – Your fridge is one of the most important appliances you own, especially in the summer (how else will you keep those party snacks and beverages cold?). Be sure to set aside a bit of time to freshen it up:  

• Remove any stale or old food
• Wipe down all of the shelves, drawers and doors with a mild soapy solution. It is important to hand wash these items, as they are not dishwasher safe. Make sure to dry thoroughly before putting any items back in
• Place a carton of baking powder on one of the shelves to help keep your fridge fresh

This would also be a good time to contact the manufacturer and inquire about how to clean the coils properly. 
 

Get the outdoors in shape – As the weather warms up and you’re spending more time outdoors, this would be a great opportunity to catch up on some outside maintenance. Here are a few good places to start:  

• Clean and condition your grill
• Organize your garage
• Pressure wash your deck and/or patio furniture
• Sweep off walkways and steps
• Replace your outdoor lighting with energy efficient bulbs  

Check your HVAC system ahead of time – Have a certified professional check your heat and air conditioning system now before the heat sets in. This way, you can ensure that there will be no down time when you really need it most. 

Turn off humidifiers/adjust HVAC Dampers – With the weather warming up and more moisture in the air, it is important to remember to make these changes. These adjustments will keep your HVAC system working properly, and prevent potentially expensive maintenance.