The beginning of the new year is a great time to reorganize and recharge your life. Here are three things to add to your home improvement to-do list.
Clean or replace your filters
Regularly changing the filter in your furnace improves indoor air quality and the lifespan of the equipment. Humidifiers, heat-recovery ventilators (HRVs) and wall-mounted ductless air conditioners all have filters that need cleaning or replacing. Check their manuals for suggested intervals.
There are also washable filters in the exhaust vent over your stove. Some can simply go in the dishwasher.
Inspect your smoke and CO detectors
Your home should have smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on every floor and near all the bedrooms. They should be periodically vacuumed to remove any dust buildup. If they have a backup battery, replace it twice a year. Others have 10-year built-in batteries. Look for a label on the unit saying when it should be replaced.
Maintain your electronics
The various devices in our homes, from phones and tablets to computers and TVs, rely on software to operate. Developers regularly issue software updates to keep the device working efficiently and help prevent security breaches. Install updates as soon as you receive them. Better yet, enable automatic software updates where available.
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