There are some things that when forgotten could end up costing you a lot of money. Here are five monthly home maintenance tips not to forget.
Over time, range hood filters collect a lot of grease, and at a certain point this is a fire hazard. You may not need to replace or even clean your range hood filters, but at least checking them each month is a great minimum cadence.
If you do need to clean them, it’s pretty easily done:
Replacement timelines for HVAC filters can vary depending on the size of them and what type of system you have, but checking the condition once a month is a great way to make sure you replace it when you need to.
So when should you replace your HVAC filter? A few common signs are:
A general rule of thumb is that fire extinguishers last 5 – 15 years. Do you know how old yours is? Look for an expiration date on the canister or label, and if that date is past it’s probably a good idea to replace it.
Getting in a habit of doing this monthly is a great way to make sure neither of these die on you. To test a smoke alarm, just push and hold the test button; this is located in different places depending on the type, but it will be on the front or side somewhere. If it goes off uncomfortably loudly that means it’s in working order. If it doesn’t at all or it sounds weak, it probably needs new batteries.
Testing a carbon monoxide detector is the exact same process. Just press and hold the test button to ensure it sounds, and replace the batteries if it doesn’t.
Cracks in any caulking or grout in showers and tubs are common, and best touched up as soon as you notice them. Be sure not to apply caulk over grout, as overtime mold can form as caulk recedes.
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