Mid-winter home maintenance checklist

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Canton, Mich.— RepairClinic.com®, the trusted online store for replacement parts and free repair help for home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment, today shared home maintenance tips to improve energy efficiency and keep appliances and heating systems running well.

1.    Pay attention to changes in appliance and heating and cooling equipment performance.

Changes in appliance and equipment performance are often warning signs of larger problems. Troubleshoot and complete repairs as needed to improve energy efficiency and avoid costly repairs later.

Repair Help

2.    Change the furnace or air handler air filter.

This should happen every three months, or more frequently, depending on the region. A clean air filter is critical to home air quality and to proper furnace or air handler operation. Homeowners should periodically check the condition of the furnace or air handler filter to determine the frequency necessary for changing the filter in their homes.

Air filters

3.    Clean or replace the humidifier filter, if equipped.

4.    Make sure registers are obstruction free.

Drapes and furniture should be positioned at a considerable distance from the registers to enable proper air flow. Rugs should not touch the registers.

5.    Seal the exterior.

Gaps and holes in a home’s exterior will cause drafts and increased heating costs. Use expanding foam to seal exterior holes. Seal gaps around window and door frames with weatherstripping and caulking.

6.    Clean out dryer venting.

Use a long dryer vent cleaning brush to remove lint buildup from inside of the dryer through the outside venting. Lint buildup in dryer venting is an extreme fire risk. A thorough venting cleanout should happen at least once annually.

20-foot dryer lint cleaning brush

Dryer Maintenance Tips

7.    Thoroughly clean the refrigerator’s condenser coils.

Use a bristle brush to clear dust and dirt from the condenser coils; dirty coils will cause the refrigerator to have to work longer and will lead to premature wear.

Long-handled bristle brush

8.    Replace the refrigerator water filter, if equipped.

Refrigerator water filters should be replaced every six months or more frequently.

RepairClinic’s free troubleshooting and repair help system empowers do-it-yourselfers to fix common problems associated with home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment. DIYers can enter a model number to choose from a list of common symptoms for that particular model, troubleshoot and watch expertly-produced videos to learn the most likely causes and conditions and purchase the correct part.

RepairClinic’s more than 2,200 award-winning how-to videos have been viewed more than 38 million times. This year, the company celebrates 16 years in business and three and a half million customers who have saved an estimated $260 million in repair costs by fixing things on their own.

RepairClinic.com was recently honored to be part of Internet Retailer magazine’s 2015 Hot 100 list, which annually lists the world’s best retail websites for innovation.

Winter-home-maintenance-tips-2015

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