Canton, Mich.— RepairClinic.com®, the trusted online store for replacement parts and free how-to repair help for home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment, today shared fall maintenance tips that will save homeowners money.
“There are many simple maintenance to dos that, when completed, provide considerable cost savings for home owners,” said Chris Hall, RepairClinic.com co-founder and president. “Properly maintaining a home and its appliances and heating and cooling equipment will reduce energy consumption and keep them running safely and efficiently.”
• Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries and test them.
• Thoroughly clean out the dryer venting system.
Use a long dryer vent cleaning brush to remove lint buildup from inside of the dryer to the outside. Dryer lint buildup causes thousands of fires every year; a clean-out should happen at least once per year.
• Prepare the central air condensing unit for the off season.
Turn off power to the unit and remove leaves and debris from inside and around the condensing unit. Do not cover the unit with a tarp or plastic, as covering the unit completely will restrict important air flow. Use a condensing unit cover made for this purpose which allows air flow while keeping out moisture.
• Complete a heating system tune up:
– Replace the furnace air filter.
– Check venting registers for restriction and relocate any rugs, drapes or furniture that could restrict air flow.
– Clean and replace filter(s) in the humidifier, if equipped.
• Seal the exterior to prevent draft and to reduce heating costs considerably.
Use expanding foam to seal holes in a home’s exterior. Apply weatherstripping and caulking to window and door frames.
• Thoroughly clean the refrigerator.
– Clean condenser coils. Use a bristle brush to remove dust and dirt from black condenser coils located behind or beneath the unit. These coils are responsible for removing heat from the unit and must be clean in order to work properly.
– Change the water filter, if the refrigerator is equipped with a water/ice dispenser.
• Prepare lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment for fall storage.
Follow the owner’s manuals for specific instructions. Add fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank. Store in a dry, covered area such as a garage or shed.
Lawn mower maintenance products
• Tune up and repair snow blowers and other winter tools and equipment.
• Clean out the water heater tank.
Remove natural sediment buildup by draining two gallons of water from the water heater. Follow the owner’s manual for instructions.
• Inspect all appliances and equipment for damage and changes in performance.
Appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment often show changes in performance as warning signs about larger problems. Troubleshoot and complete repairs to avoid more costly repairs later.
This year, RepairClinic celebrates 15 years in business and three and a half million customers who have saved $260 million in repair costs by completing repairs on their own. Its 1,900 how-to videos have been viewed more than 34 million times.
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RepairClinic.com® makes fixing things easy. Founded in 1999, it’s a trusted online store with replacement parts for major home appliances, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment. Free online repair resources including more than 1,900+ award-winning how-to videos empower people to fix stuff on their own. One million parts for 160 brands are stocked at its 86,000-square-foot facility in Canton, Michigan. It offers a generous, no-hassle 365 Days. Period.® return policy. In-stock parts are guaranteed to ship the same business day. For more information, visit RepairClinic.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Contact Jody Lamb, Public Relations Manager, at JLamb [at] RepairClinic.com. All quotes from this release may be attributed to Chris Hall, co-founder and president, RepairClinic.com.