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JANUARY Change furnace filter to ensure maximum air circulation and heating efficiency. Test and/or inspect smoke, heat, and gas detectors and fire extinguishers. Replace batteries or replace with new detector. Change vacuum cleaner bags and filters to improve cleaning efficiency. Seal drafty doors and windows. If you add up all the small cracks where heating and cooling escape, it's as inefficient as having a window open. Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. If carpet is installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem. Organize your workshop. Use open shelving for heavy tools, and drawers for those smaller and especially sharp. Clear working surfaces of clutter. FEBRUARY Inspect inlet hoses leading in to your washing machine for cracking, bubbling, or stress points. Having an inlet hose burst can cause severe water damage in your home. Most manufacturers recommend that hoses be replaced every 5 years. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into your dishwasher and run a regular wash cycle. This helps dissolve mineral accumulation and soap residue. Practice your family fire-escape plan. Run your ceiling fan clockwise during winter months (to cycle warm air that rises to your ceiling) for a 10% to 15% savings on your heating bill. Have your duct system tested for air leaks; you may be losing 25% to 40% of the energy put out by your furnace. Switch to energy-saving bulbs. They use 75% less energy than standard ones and last up to 10 times longer. Lower your thermostat from 72° to 64° when you’re not home during the day to save an extra 10% on winter heating bills. Conserve hot water. The second largest energy-consumer in the home is water heating, which accounts for more than 15% of an average home's total energy use. MARCH Get your lawn equipment tuned up and ready for spring mowing season. Mow twice a week during the coolest part of the day. Clean debris, dirt and grass from your tractor or mower deck with a portable power blower or air compressor. A direct water wash is NOT recommended, as moist residue can lead to rusting and corrosion. Schedule a central air conditioning system tune-up to ensure your system will work its best. Check outside condensing unit for dirt and debris buildup caused by pollen, cottonwood seeds and building construction. Washing with tap water on low pressure prevents damage. The cheapest (and easiest) way to keep insects out of electrical components and air conditioners is a flea collar. To “install,” just switch power off and place the collar near the relay switch. Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary. Use a carpet knife to slice old caulk away from house siding. Check roof for leaks around vents, skylights and chimney. Repair or service as necessary. Check basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean dehumidifier regularly if you have one. APRIL Replace batteries on smoke, heat and gas detectors. Do this when you set the clock ahead to daylight savings time. Wash walls and windows; clean upholstery. It is recommended to have your carpets professionally cleaned once every 12 months to preserve the warranty and prevent permanent damage. Sears has a 2-step process that is recommended by America’s leading carpet manufacturers. Clean gutters and drain pipes—be sure they drain away from the house. Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable). Check and patch door and window screens. Repair or replace fence, gate and other landscape borders. If your home has single-pane windows, consider replacing them. New thermal-pane windows with high-performance glass can cut heating and cooling costs. Get your chimneys checked by a professional chimney sweep. Wear thick gardening gloves when handling broken glass, and use goggles if you have to break any glass. Crisscross pieces of masking tape over a broken windowpane, cover with a heavy cloth, then tap with a hammer to break away the pieces from the window without splintering. Install a carbon monoxide detector to warn you of harmful gases that may be caused by a blocked or damaged chimney, or by a faulty heating system. Do you have a fire extinguisher? If yes, check the pressure every month. If not, get one now. Replenish your first-aid kit. Make sure your list of emergency phone numbers is up to date. If you are planning any major renovations, test the area for radon before you begin and after the work is completed. MAY Repair cracks in driveway, sidewalks and walkways. Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. Check for leaks where water enters the house, at outdoor faucets or pipes leading into the house. Clean decks, gazebos, fences and patio furniture. Weatherproof if necessary. Spray garage door tracks with lubricant for smooth operation and to avoid rust. JUNE Have a professional clean the lint from your clothes dryer vent to the outside vent. Refer to your owner’s manual for more details. Inspect all the faucets in your home—clean showerheads and faucet aerators, and replace worn faucet washers. Carefully inspect your roof or have a professional do it. Be sure to look for damaged shingles, shakes or tiles. Don't lower your thermostat to a cooler-than-normal-setting when you turn on your air conditioner. Your home won’t cool down any faster, and you may incur an excessive cooling expense. Save time and money by preparing your lawn for new seed or sod. Renting a power rake instead of using a rototiller to prepare your soil will speed up the process. If you’re laying sod, make sure you roll it all out in one day. Even overnight, rolled sod will burn yellow. Plant a border of perennial shrubs around your yard in one weekend for color and interest all season. Add a simple stone walkway or an attractive fence for a welcoming touch. When water flows backward through the water supply system, it’s called backflow. The chemicals used on your lawn are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. For this reason, never use spray attachments without a backflow-prevention device. JULY If your refrigerator has a water line, replace the water filter. Manufacturers recommend replacing the water filter every 6 months. Change furnace filter to ensure maximum air circulation and heating efficiency. Check the outside of your air conditioning condensing unit for dirt and debris. Wash with tap water on low pressure. Remove the kick plate at the front of the refrigerator and vacuum the floor and the lint on the condenser coils (you can use a coil brush to clean as well). This will help your refrigerator run cooler and use less electricity, plus help prolong the life of the condenser. Use an attic fan to draw hot air out of the attic, and a whole-house fan to draw fresh air in through windows and exhaust it out roof vents. Pool Care Store your pool chemicals out of direct sunlight to prevent breakdown by UV rays. If you use your pool on weekends only, reduce pool heater settings by 8° to 10° during the week. If you go on vacation, turn it off completely, including the pilot light. When cleaning the surface of your pool with a leaf net, work your way around the sides first, then clean from the middle of the pool to the sides. Keep the trees and shrubs around your pool trimmed to minimize pool debris. AUGUST If you have a water softener, visually inspect the salt tank for salt bridging. If bridging occurs, break loose with a broom handle or warm water. Clean underside of range hood, stove surface and oven door. Clean or replace filters. Trim shrubs and hedges monthly during the growing season to slow their growth; the slower a shrub grows, the thicker and better it will look. Cut costs and save landfills by making your own compost. Most yard waste and raw vegetable kitchen scraps will form usable humus in a few months. Store your garden hose neatly on a hose reel or hanger. Between watering jobs, loop the hose into a layer of figure-eights; this pattern will let you pull the hose off the stack virtually snag-free. Clean your garden tools using a bucket filled with a sand-oil mixture. Just fill up a 5-gallon bucket with clean, dry sand, then lightly saturate it with new motor oil. Scrape off excess soil and plunge tools up and down in the mix. Wipe dry before storing. SEPTEMBER Schedule professional preseason tune-up on your heating system. Clean patio furniture and store for winter. Change furnace filters regularly—at least once every 3 months to ensure maximum air circulation and heating efficiency. Maintain oil levels to prevent boiler motor burn-out. Store your window-unit air conditioner in a dry place during the winter months. Remove it carefully from the window and cover it with plastic or return it to its original carton. "Bleed out" trapped air in your radiator system 1 to 2 times per year. Air trapped in the radiator blocks the flow of water and makes the system run inefficiently. OCTOBER Replace batteries on smoke, heat and gas detectors. Do this when you set the clock back to standard time. Drain hot water from water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank. Clean ashes out of fireplace. Have your chimney professionally cleaned and checked for loose or missing mortar. Make sure the damper closes tightly. Spray garage door tracks with lubricant for smooth operation and to prevent rust. Make sure seals around the garage door are secure so cold air won’t flow in during winter months. This is a good time to add extra convenience and security to your home with garage-door accessories, including a wireless garage-door monitor, keyless entry and plug-in home light controls. NOVEMBER Tune up your snow thrower or blower or have it done professionally. Clean gutters. Change furnace filter to ensure maximum air circulation and heating efficiency. Test and/or inspect smoke, heat, and gas detectors and fire extinguishers. Replace batteries or replace with new detector. To protect pipes from freezing, disconnect hoses from outdoor water faucets and drain all excess water. Close valves that lead to outdoor faucets and open the faucets outside to allow drainage. When closing your pool for the season, coat all accessible O-rings, rubber fittings and gaskets with a silicone O-ring lube to keep them from drying out. DECEMBER Change vacuum cleaner bags and filters to improve cleaning efficiency. Seal drafty doors and windows. If you add up all the small cracks where heating and cooling escape, it's as inefficient as having a window open. Prevent water pipes from freezing. Insulate any pipes that may freeze, especially in the attic. Leave the cabinet doors open under the sink or let the faucets drip very gently on nights where a large temperature drop is predicted. Prevent ice dams on your roof by keeping your attic temperature down so roof snow doesn't melt. Good venting and insulation in your attic will do this. Install halogen bulbs instead of incandescent ones in outdoor fixtures, as they are more energy efficient and generate more heat. Keep your locks from freezing by keeping them lubricated and dry. Ask your local locksmith for the best lubricant for your climate and the type of locks you have. Download a PDF version of these Monthly maintenance reminders to your desktop.

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