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Spring Reminders:
Warmer weather is on the way, and it's a good
time to check and maintain some of the mechanics in and around your home before
you break out the Barbeque. An ounce of prevention is going to save you some
cash down the road!
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Flush
out your Hot Water Heater: It's important to flush out the Hot
Water Heater to get rid of the sediment that builds up in the tank over
time, and prolong the life of the tank.
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Test
water shut off valves: Shut off Valves for your Sink's, Toilets
and other plumbing supply lines will seize up if not used for long periods
of time. It's as simple as shutting the valve all the way off, and then
turning it back on. This will save you the surprise of finding a valve that
won't budge at the worst time. Main water shut off valves are particularly
Important, because you don't want to get caught during an emergency
situation with a shut off that doesn't work! |
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Hose
off outdoor Air Conditioning Units: It only takes a minute to
hose off any dirt and debris that has collected on your A/C Unit over the
winter months. |
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Wash
the house Windows: As part of your Spring Clean up Don't forget
to wash the Windows, The Spring Sun looks so much better through clean
glass. |
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Test
GFI Receptacles & Breakers: It's a good Idea to Test these
potential life saving devices every Month. A simple Push of the TEST button
should trip the Plug or Breaker. If it does not Trip Make sure you have it
repaired by a qualified Electrician. (If you have
questions or problems with this one in particular we would be happy to
assist you as we are Licensed Electrical Contractors) |
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Replace HVAC
Filters: These
filters should be checked regularly, especially after the long winter
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Fall Reminders:
The end of summer, a time to get out and
enjoy those precious moments of fun in the sun we have left. But while you work
in that last trip to the beach, it’s important to remember to set aside time for
repair projects around the house! If you don’t get to them now, you could end up
regretting it when the chill of the winter sets in.
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Clean
out your gutters: It's important to get any leaves & debris out
of the gutter
so you don't have problems over the winter months.
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Check the deck: After you’ve taken all
the patio furniture in to store for the winter,
give the deck a good inspection. If it has never been treated, do it now. A
simple
afternoon of work will add years to the life of your patio. |
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Shut
the water off to your outside taps: If you have a shut off
valve turn
it off to prevent the water in the pipe from freezing and
bursting over the cold
winter months. After shutting the valve off, open the valve on the tap to
drain
out any water in the line.
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Check
the Furnace: In the winter, the furnace is
the heart of your house. Before
anything else gets done, make sure you check your filter. If it's old and
dusty, you
can either clean it or replace it. If your house runs on forced air, you
should spend
the money to get the ducts vacuumed. Getting rid of the previous year's
dust, pet
dander and other build-ups, instead of blowing them around your house for
another season, your health is well worth the investment. |
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Check
your doors and windows: Weather proofing your doors and
windows
will help keep the heat inside. For doors, there are a few things you
can do to
keep the draft from winning the battle for heat.
First, you can install a sweep along the bottom of all your
doors. The sweep screws into the door and it has a rubber edge that makes a
seal, which stops the draft from coming in under the doorway.
Second, you can apply "sticky foam" (like tape) to the
inside edges of the door trim, sealing up the doorway against the winter
winds.
Lastly, you can purchase weather-stripping, which screws
onto the outside edge of the doorway.
For windows, check the caulking, inside & out if it's
cracked or brittle replace it. you could also purchase removable draft seal,
which is like tape. Simply tape up your windows in the winter, and peel the
tape off in the spring.
Finally, the old standard plastic (apply by blow-drying)
is also an option. If you don't want to seal up your windows, you can always
avoid window drafts are by making use of window coverings like heavy drapes
or blinds.
Now, don't seal up all of your windows! Make sure you can
still open one or two because even thought it might be cold, it's still
important to get some fresh air inside every now and again. |
make sure you've got a good carbon monoxide
detector. If you've got one already, make sure it works - you don't want to
endanger yourself or your family with faulty safety equipment.
Need Help?
Give us a call!
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