As a homeowner or resident, there are things you should do this quarter to help maintain the integrity of the home and mechanical systems.

HVAC
Make sure your air filter is replaced every 30-days. We recommend that when the rent/mortgage is paid, change the filter. Don’t buy the expensive 90 day or 6 month filters. Get the $3.00 pr $4.00 basic ones, but replace them every month.  Often times a dirty air filter is the culprit when the AC goes out.   Also, make sure you clean your air returns and vents to ensure you aren’t breathing harmful particulates (this would be a good time to clean your bathroom vent fans).

Have your outdoor coils cleaned.  This can improve your energy usage by over 30%.  In addition, it causes less wear and tear on parts of your HVAC system (capacitors, blower motors, blower motor housing, etc…).  Look for Henderson Properties Spring Special later this quarter where we will be offering an HVAC tune up that will include cleaning of coils.

Dryer vents

To improve your dryer’s ability to dry clothes, reduce the time your dryer runs and thereby decreasing utility costs, have your dryer vent cleaned.  While you likely clean the dryer filter before each dryer cycle, when was the last time you cleaned the vent that goes from the dryer to the outside?  If you haven’t cleaned your dryer vent in a long time you will be pleasantly surprised with your clothes drying more quickly.

Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals typically start to stink after a while.  To help keep the blades sharp and try to rid the interior of any grease build-up or other material, toss a few ice cubes in the disposal and run it until they are chopped and gone.  You can also periodically take a lemon or orange peel and put it down the drain.  The oils and juices from the fruit will help clean the walls of the disposal and leave a fresh scent.  If the odor is very stubborn, you can pour some baking soda into the disposal and let it sit for several hours before running the water and turning on the disposal to flush it out.

If the garbage disposal is not working, turn the switch to off and check for jammed items in the disposal.  If something is jammed, carefully attempt to remove.  Then push the “Reset” button located under the sink, usually on the underside of the garbage disposal.

Appliances

Dishwashers might be one of the dirtiest appliances in the kitchen!  Monthly, take a cup of vinegar and pour it into the bottom of the dishwasher.  Run a cycle with no dishes present to help sanitize and clean the unit.

Vacuum your refrigerator coils and any vents.  A fridge can use up to 15% of your home’s total power, so you want it to run as efficiently as possible.  Dirty coils and clogged vents cause the fridge to work harder to keep things cool, so cleaning this will reduce your energy costs and minimizes repair costs.

Gutters

If you have not cleaned your gutters from the Fall, we would encourage you do that now.  Clogged gutters cause a lot of damage to a home.  Because rain water cannot collect off the roof, the rain will fall over the clogged gutters and cause damage to window sills, door trim, crawl spaces to collect more water which can cause damage to the crawl space.  Clogged gutters create a lot of weight on the gutters, which can cause the gutter to pull away from the home.  This can cause rain water to start causing damages to the soffit and fascia.   Go ahead and inspect your roof for any signs of shingle decay and examine flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vents.  Contact Henderson Properties if you need assistance with this.

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Check your batteries for the detectors to ensure they are operating correctly.  Nearly 2/3rds of all home fire deaths were in homes without working smoke detectors.  Each bedroom is required to have a smoke detector and in a hallway that is shared by bedrooms.  Each floor of a home is required to have a carbon monoxide detectors.  While checking this, make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your home and that it is not out of date.

Spring Planning

As we approach Spring, start planning for how your will spruce up your home.

• Rake leaves into flowerbeds to provide mulch which will protect plants and shrubs from drought and weeds
• Aerate & seed your lawn in early Spring. Henderson will be providing a Spring Aeration and Seeding special in the Spring, so be on the lookout for that
• Sharpen your lawn mower blades
• Remove any dead trees or limbs
• Give your house a bath, by pressure washing your home and deck
• Maybe you want to start planning to paint areas of the home.  Interior painting refreshes the look of your home.  Exterior painting protects your home and shutters.

If you need any assistance, you can go to www.hendersonproperties.com and click the Request Maintenance tab on the upper right.