This is part of a sponsored campaign with Filtrete. All opinions are solely that of the author.
We’ve just officially welcomed the Fall season, and over the weekend we continued to see temperatures in the 80s, which means there are still plenty of warm days left in the year. You’ve likely spent the weeks preceding the school year prepping and shopping…but have you prepared your home for the change in seasons?
Through my partnership with Filtrete, I have some quick, easy home maintenance tips to share with you from HGTV Contractor Mike Holmes. I like to set myself a reminder on my calendar every 3 months to change my air filter and prepare for the new season. Each of these quick tasks should not take more than 20 minutes:
1. Change the air filter: For air conditioning systems, an electrostatically-charged Filtrete Brand air filter will capture dust, pollen, and lint in the air. Change it every three months with the seasons for a healthy home and a properly functioning system.
2. Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater: Even before my son was born, my husband made the decision to set our hot water heater below 120 degrees F. I love taking hot showers and baths, but after I fainted during my pregnancy, he decided that it was in everyone’s best interests to lower the water temperature. These days, we’re more concerned about our children burning themselves washing their hands or taking a bath which is why it remains below Holme’s recommended temperature setting.
3. Clean the stove: Did you know that grease that has built up around the stove can increase the risk of fire? Holmes recommends removing and washing stove grates, burners, and coils with soap and warm water to minimize this risk. I actually do this on an as needed basis rather than every 3 months because we cook a ton and I find that the grease accumulates more rapidly.
4. Check the fire extinguishers in your home: Having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen logically makes sense, but did you know you should keep one on every floor of your home? Be sure to check the expiration date with the season changes as expired fire extinguishers can become inoperable.
5. Inspect your home for cracks: Living in a seismologically active city means that cracks in our home are inevitable and can occur even with small tremors. Holmes recommends inspecting the floor, walls, and foundation of your home for cracks, then setting up a plan to fix them so that they don’t lead to deterioration and wood rot.
This is how our air filter looks after 3 months
Our seasons are temperate, and from one day to the next we could be switching between our cooling and heating systems. It wasn’t until late August that we really ran our AC because it seems like Southern California had a very delayed summer season. With the change in season comes the need to change our air filter. If you used your cooling system all summer long, you’ll likely find that dust and other particles have built up. Using a Micro Allergen Reduction Filter like those made from Filtrete can help provide a balance between particle capture and airflow to prevent excessive stress on a system that is being used frequently to cool your home. This particular filter is ideal for trapping dust, pollen, and lint so that the air in your home is cleaner and your system runs efficiently. Like many filters, this one should be changed every three months and I like to time it with the season changes.
Filtrete Filters are available at Walmart, Lowe’s and local hardware stores and vary in price, starting at just under $5. Right now you can save $15.00 when you purchase 4 Filtrete Air filters. To find the filter that is right for your home, visit FindMyFiltreteFilter.com.
Images: Rockin’ Mama/Filtrete
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