March Homework

While we are still hunkered in with snow all around, spring seems distant on the horizon. But it is just around the corner. In fact, daylight savings time starts this month; on March 9 it’s time to set the clock an hour ahead.

The start of daylight savings time is also a good time to replace the batteries in smoke alarms and test that all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order. The Hawkins-Gignac Act, passed late last year, requires all Ontario homes with fuel-burning appliances or heating systems, fireplaces, or attached garages to be equipped with working carbon monoxide alarms.

This has been an extra cold winter, so drafts in your home might be more noticeable. If your basement tends to be cold in the winter, insulate the water pipes to prevent freezing and wrap the furnace ductwork with insulation to minimize heat loss. Plug drafts around doors and windows by having caulking and weatherstripping repaired or replaced.

Remember to help your heating system do its job efficiently by changing or cleaning furnace and humidifier filters this month.

Prevent excess humidity from causing damage in the home by keeping your humidistat below 40 per cent. Watch for condensation and damp areas on walls or ceilings.

Monitor eavestroughs for hanging icicles indicating blockages that could lead to ice damming and subsequent roof damage. As the weather warms, look for leaking eaves during rainstorms. If you spotted either icicles or leaks, have a roofing specialists inspect your roofing system in the spring and have repairs made.

March is the time to plan decorating and outdoor projects and call for quotes before the spring renovation rush. The sooner you get things underway in the spring, the more time you will have to lounge on your new deck/patio this summer!

Source: Homeservice Club