The month of April is a time a lot of people in these northern climes start looking forward to fresh spring start after a long, cold and snowy winter. That make it the perfect time to turn your attention to scheduled maintenance chores that should be on every homeowner’s annual to-do list.
April To-Dos:
10 Year Smoke Detector Batteries Now Available
Did you know your neighborhood hardware store has batteries that will last ten years? Remember, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – even if you’ve been diligent about changing batteries in the past, it’s hard to say when a particular set is going to discharge. If you do not install the 10 year batteries, Get Dwell recommends making this an annual event you don’t skip. Remember, too, that even hardwired detectors have batteries.
Change Your Light Bulbs
While you have the ladder out, this spring is a great time to change your old light bulbs to newer, energy-savings ones. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, it would save enough energy to light more than three million homes for one year. That would prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars! Ask your local hardware store person any questions you have they will be happy to help.
Get Ready for the Rains. Part 1
We may get heavy rains, which may have nowhere to go but your basement. So be sure to check that your gutters and downspouts are clear, the window well drains are clear and – if you have stairs below grade – make sure those drains are unobstructed, too.
Get Ready for the Rains, Part 2
Every spring homes in our area flood because their sump pumps aren’t working properly, or at all. Many homeowners don’t notice because the sump probably hasn’t had to work since last fall. So make sure you check your sump pump and it’s back-up battery. Performing a test is easy: Add water to the sump pit until the sump float is lifted high enough to engage the pump. Do not operate the pump for more than a few seconds without water in the sump pit. If your sump pump isn’t working contact a professional promptly.
Have a question about these tips? Need repairs or maintenance to get your home ready for the warmer weather? Talk to Get Dwell or sign up for the Trustable Home Plan which will make sure your house is prepared for Chicago weather all year.