{"id":16944,"date":"2021-11-17T00:59:54","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T00:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/?p=16944"},"modified":"2021-11-16T21:02:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T21:02:29","slug":"have-you-checked-these-lately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/17\/have-you-checked-these-lately\/","title":{"rendered":"Have You Checked These Lately?"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY ANNA & MICHELLE\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

H<\/span>omeowners know the need to periodically check certain things around the home to ensure that things operate properly and efficiently.\u00a0If maintenance is required, it may be less expensive to take care of it early rather than waiting until it is not working at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Checklists are helpful because it requires little effort to know what must be done.\u00a0They are usually concise and provide enough information to complete the task.\u00a0These items apply to most homeowners but in no way offer a comprehensive list.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vacuum dryer exhaust\u00a0… Not only does it affect the efficiency of your dryer itself, the accumulation of lint along with the hot air can ignite and create a fire hazard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Replace HVAC filters 4 to 6 times a year\u00a0… This is one DIY project that almost everyone should feel confident in handling.\u00a0Locate the filter, make a note of the size, and keep replacements available.\u00a0Turn off the unit, open the door or housing, remove the dirty filter, and replace it with the new one.\u00a0Pay attention to the direction of the airflow; filters are marked to indicate the correct direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Test all GFCI breakers \u2026 GFCI breakers, as well as outlets, have a test button on them.\u00a0Pressing the test button should cause the breaker to trip, which shuts off all power to the entire circuit.\u00a0To reset the breaker, push it completely to off and then back to on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vacuum refrigerator coils\u00a0… Coils on refrigerators can be in different places depending on the model and manufacturer.\u00a0Locate the coils and clean the dirt and dust from them using a soft bristle brush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush.<\/span><\/p>\n

Replace batteries in smoke detectors\u00a0… Smoke detectors should be tested monthly by pushing the test button.\u00a0Annually, the batteries should be replaced, even if they appear to still have life in them.\u00a0After replacing the batteries, test the smoke detector to see if it is functioning properly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Check windows and doors for leaks\u00a0… There are several ways to check for leaks.\u00a0One method used on a cold day would be to hold your hand a few inches from the window or doorframe to feel for drafts.\u00a0Another method would be to light a candle and trace the outline of the window or door to see if the flame or smoke pull in one direction, indicating an air leak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspect all sprinkler system stations\u00a0to see if heads are leaking or need adjusting … Manually, turn on each of the stations and look at each sprinkler that is running to see if it is leaking or if it is properly covering the area intended.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Check garage door opener\u00a0to see that safety features engage properly … Place a cardboard box in line of one of the sensors before trying to close the door.\u00a0The door should reverse itself after sensing the obstruction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Check and clean fireplace(s) annually, if used\u00a0… This may be a job that you want to have someone else do, but you may be able to recognize indicators that the chimney needs cleaning.\u00a0These things include evidence of birds or animals; fireplace smells like a campfire; smoke fills the room; difficulty starting or keeping a fire going; the fireplace walls have oily marks; the damper is black with soot and creosote. The frequency of use on woodburning fireplaces will impact the need for cleaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY ANNA & MICHELLE\u00a0 Homeowners know the need to periodically check certain things around the home to ensure that things operate properly and efficiently.\u00a0If maintenance is required, it may be less expensive to take care of it early rather than waiting until it is not working at all. Checklists are helpful because it requires little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16945,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_pvb_checkbox_block_on_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-better-homeowners-news","category-sponsored"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16944"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16946,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16944\/revisions\/16946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodriverweekly.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}