5 Household items that need your attention this autumn

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Heading into autumn, there are are few household tasks that you might want to check over before the cold weather comes. Home buyers sometimes only consider the financial burden they’ll be dealt with when acquiring the keys to a new home. Many of them fail to realise the investment of time and labour required to maintain household essentials. Without further ado, here are 5 household items that need your attention this autumn but rarely come to mind.

1. The Heating System 

It’s really important to check your heating system at this time of year. You might not have used it all summer long so it’s a good idea to give it a test now that the temperature has dropped. It would be a shame to go into autumn and winter with a heating system that isn’t as efficient as it could be – for one, you’ll be chilly in your home, and on top of this, you’ll probably end up with a bigger gas or electricity bill than usual. Book in for a boiler check and make sure that your water heater and radiators are functioning well before the cold weather comes.

2. Granite Countertops

Granite is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eyes; it also increases the overall value of your home. However, if you want to reduce the formation of stains in the granite, it is extremely important to maintain it frequently. In addition to improving the appearance of the stone, regular maintenance also helps extend the life of the stone. Granite countertops must be sealed correctly upon installation and there may even be a need for you to reapply the seal on a yearly basis. Give it a treatment now to save time and money in the future.

3. Hardwood Floors

It is essential to clean your hardwood floors and keep them grit-free on a regular basis. Doing so prevents the dirt from grinding into the wood finish. If you have pets in your home, you should consider installing machine-finished hardwoods as they are relatively sturdier than other finishes. You should also know that wood floors tend to react easily to the elements; for instance, the floors can expand and contract when there is a change in the temperature. It is therefore a good idea not to use ammonia cleaners, oil soaps, and waxes with a urethane finish when cleaning the floors.

4. Clean the smoke/carbon dioxide detectors

It is SO important for you to test and clean the smoke/carbon dioxide detectors frequently. Most of the detectors feature a¨test¨ button that helps users know if the detector is in working condition. If the alarm sounds, you can sleep well at night knowing that the detectors will function properly during a crisis. However, if they don’t sound, you should clean the battery terminal and replace the old batteries with new ones immediately.

5. Water Heater

What will you do if the water heater dysfunctions over the winter? Wouldn’t it be a terrible ordeal? Therefore, in order to ensure that the water heater functions smoothly at all times, it is imperative for you to maintain it frequently. It is essential to drain the tank once every year; doing so will help get rid of unwanted sediment and minerals in the tank. This preventive measure will, in turn, help elongate the lifespan of the appliance.

Let me know how you keep on top of household tasks in the comments section below. The handy tips in this DIY blog post have been kindly shared by denverairductcleaning.com so that we can all benefit from their extensive home maintenance knowledge. Thanks for reading!

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