Spring Ahead With These Home Maintenance Tips

Spring cleaning and spring maintenance tips go hand in hand. Take a cue from the tips below and spruce up your gutters as you spruce up your rose garden.

• Inspect your smoke detectors, and make sure that there is one on each floor of your home. Test them monthly, and change the batteries annually or as needed.
• Check the light bulbs in all your fixtures to be sure they are the correct wattage as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Replace all high-intensity bulbs (such as halogen) with fluorescent bulbs that don’t produce as much heat.
• Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
• Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible, filled and ready for operation.
• Have your air conditioning system inspected by a professional as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating.
• Check water heater for leaks and corrosion.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter.
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the washer & dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material.
• Check your washing machine supply hose for cracks. Change from rubber to braided metal for less risk of a rupture.
• Remove all dead trees in your yard, and keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from your roof and utility wires.
• Safely store oil and gas for lawn equipment and tools in a vented, locked area.
• Repair cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walkways to provide a level walking surface.
• Check and repair handrails and porch rails.

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By The Travelers Indemnity Company and its property casualty affiliates, One Tower Square, Hartford, CT.  Used with permission.