Well it's time for Old Man Winter to make his annual appearance. He came a bit earlier in October and somewhat caught everyone off guard. Now as it's getting darker earlier and a bit cooler, I thought perhaps the following might be of interest to keep your home a happy place.
Any Pesky Pests?: Well when it's cold outside, we come inside and guess who else likes to visit a nice warm and
comfy home. While during the holidays Mickey Mouse may be welcomed, but not his extended family. If your home has a basement and/or a crawl space, now is the time to check for signs of unwanted guest. Look for droppings, listen for weird noises and smells. Any holes in your screens? A mouse is very flexible and can work it's way through very small holes. Another point of entry is your garage. Make sure the gap between the garage door and the slab is no more than half an inch.
Is your home energy efficient?
Consider installing a programmable thermostat. The US Department of Energy says you can decrease your heating costs by 10-15%. Hey every little bit helps, right? Search around in your area for companies which conduct home efficiency consultations. The cost is nominal when you consider the amount of money you can save!
Fire Prevention, Batteries required!
During daylight savings time, we're all reminded to replace the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you forgot to do it, make a note to pick up some AA batteries and replace them as soon as possible.
Also please consider checking the gauge on your home fire extinguishers. If the gauge looks good, keep them. But if in doubt, replace them. When shopping for fire extinguishers, look for models labeled "ABC" - which means it's a multi-purpose model, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association.
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