Maybe you killed it this year — you hit all your goals and you’re feeling great. Or maybe one or two or all of this year’s resolutions fell by the wayside. No worries, there’s a new year right around the corner. Whether you choose to check your circuits, drain your boiler, or scrub-a-dub-dub, these five tips will ensure your home doesn’t become an afterthought on that resolution list.
1. Insulate your home to get energy-efficient. Brr…it’s cold in here. Before you crank up the heat — and your energy bills — check your home’s insulation (including weatherstripping around doors and windows) to make sure you’re keeping the hot air in and the cold air out.
2. Drain your boiler to get warm. Your boiler’s going to be working overtime for the next few months. Show it some TLC by draining it once yearly to clean out mineral and sediment buildup. Trust us — you don’t want that stuff blocking heat flow to the water. So grab a wrench, a hose, and a bucket, and we’ll show you how to drain your boiler for more efficient heating.
3. Scrub your range hood to get clean. We all love a good home-cooked meal, but the steam and smoke from all those feasts eventually builds up inside your range hood. (That’s the thing above your stove with a fan that filters out cooking fumes full of grease and odors.) Get inside the range hood every few months and clean it out. Your fan will last longer, your kitchen will smell fresher, and you’ll reduce your fire risk to boot.
4. Check your circuits to stay safe. You decked the halls and strung the lights, but did you check your circuits to make sure they’re in tip-top condition? With just a few simple steps you’ll prevent house fires, save some energy, and still keep your reputation for the most magical house on the block for the rest of the year.
5. Fix your fireplace damper to get cozy. That snap, crackle, pop in your fireplace makes for super-cozy evenings at home, but where there is fire, there is smoke. Clean or replace your fireplace damper to keep the smoke outside and the warmth inside. Don’t worry — they’ll still be plenty of time left to curl up in front of the fireplace.