Good House Keeping

Spring has finally arrived and the hot days of summer are just around the corner. Now is the time to address some key maintenance items around your house to get everything in proper working order and to minimize your energy and water needs.

The Good News Girlz list of 10 things to get your house ready for spring.

Air conditioner service: as the mercury rises above the 70° mark we flip the switch to AC to make our homes comfortable. Now is the time to schedule a cooling system inspection to make sure your system is operating efficiently. Installing programmable thermostats is an excellent way to manage your summer energy costs. Change your filter monthly and make certain your outdoor unit is free of debris.

Sprinkler system: schedule a checkup for your irrigaation system to make sure all sprinkler heads are operating properly, and that there are no leaks. Check your schedule for watering to make sure you are not over watering. Most experts recommend watering twice per week for approximately 30 minutes.

Plumbing: schedule a plumbing inspection to be sure you're not losing precious water to slow leaks in your faucets or toilets.

Refrigerators: vacuum your refrigerator coils to keep it operating at top efficiency.

Seals: check those seals around your windows, doors, electrical outlets and any other place air can escape from your home.

The pool: have your pool systems checked to ensure they are operating correctly and efficiently. This is a good time to clean the filters.

Pest control: warm weather brings out pesky pests. Schedule a pest control service to keep things under control.  Remove wood debris from around your home and eliminate standing water.

Duct cleaning: have your ducts cleaned to improve the quality of your indoor air.

Gutters: Springtime brings extra tree debris to your roof. Keep your gutters clean so that rainwater drains properly and does not cause roof leaks.  Dirty gutters provide a comfy place for cockroaches to nest

Windows: this is a good time to have your Windows cleaned to remove the dirt accumulated over the winter months. Clean windows let the sun shine in.