Spring is a beautiful season, bringing new brightness and warmth to the outdoor world. It's also a great time to make some important safety changes in your indoor living spaces. With a spring cleaning checklist in hand, you can go right ahead and freshen up your rooms and revisit equipment such as the furnace to ensure the system is running safely.
Here is your practical spring cleanup guide in keeping up with the long-held spring cleaning tradition.
Your dryer was indispensable over winter, with the clothesline tucked away for months. Now is a good time to deep clean the machine. You'll specifically want to remove the flammable lint particles that have accumulated in various parts of the dryer over time. Using a flexible brush with a long handle eliminates combustible debris in the lint trap inlet. Similarly, use a nylon brush and water to remove any hard dirt that may be trapped in the lint filter.
The climate is warming up once again, and your gas furnace is most probably not as active as it was during winter. You now have a window to have a professional inspect it to prevent issues like heat exchanger leaks that may expose the occupants of your home to carbon monoxide poisoning. It's also an ideal time to replace your furnace filter. Be sure to check the equipment for any accumulated debris or substances that may pose a fire risk, such as paper or fuel.
Most residential fires that result in serious injury, fatalities, or damage to structures and personal property start in the kitchen. Therefore, it's crucial to have a properly functioning kitchen fire extinguisher installed. Ensure the equipment is up-to-date as indicated on its label. Also, check the pressure gauge to ascertain that your fire extinguisher is properly charged to effectively defuse any inferno starting in your kitchen. If you're using a rechargeable extinguisher, ensure it's been inspected, undergone thorough hydrostatic testing, and serviced within the past 12 months.
Like fine particles and dust, mold can cause serious respiratory health issues if inhaled along with the air circulating in your rooms. To get rid of it, target moist areas like your bathrooms and laundry rooms. You can use bleach to help remove any mold in your indoor living spaces. Be sure to find and eliminate the cause of the musty and fuzzy spots on walls and other surfaces. For example, an air conditioning problem or a water leak, such as from a plumbing line, can cause excessive moisture that promotes mold growth inside your house.
Inspect all visible wiring and power cords for damage, such as an exposed live wire, which should be removed immediately. Also, move and reposition any power cords running around door frames or under rugs to prevent damage from kinking or bundling of cords.
Ensure that your emergency kit has everything you need and discard and replace any expired items such as canned food and water. Check that batteries are working and fully charged, and also remember to replenish your first-aid kit.
If you have a fireplace, spring is a good time to schedule your chimney inspection. Planning for it in advance will ensure that you won't skip your annual chimney safety maintenance in the fall. This exercise can help avoid structural issues and fire or carbon monoxide accidents in your house.
With this spring cleaning checklist, it should be a lot easier to maximize the safety and comfort of your home. It's also vital that you have the right insurance coverage for your residential property and belongings just in case a disaster occurs. To start protecting your home with a comprehensive policy, contact the experts at C.V. Mason Insurance Agency in Bristol, Connecticut today. We will help you find a homeowners insurance cover that suits your needs and budget.
