Replace filter in your heating and A/C system.
Filter, shmilter. Why do we have to change those pesky things so regularly? Well, the filter in your HVAC system has two main functions-first, it improves your home’s indoor air quality. (By the way, the EPA estimates that the air inside your home can be 2 to 5 times WORSE than the air outside!) And second, it can keep your entire HVAC system clean. Dirt can clog your furnace’s secondary heat exchanger or your a/c unit’s evaporator coil. Either way, air flow gets restricted, and can cause overheating and premature failure of parts and even the entire system.
Check your car’s battery.
Waking up on a cold, frosty morning with a dead car battery is no fun. And in fact, the “dead” of winter is when this happens most often, especially if you don’t have a garage. Extreme temperatures affect the chemical reaction that activates the battery’s internal cranking power. That’s why your battery usually comes encased in an insulated jacket. (And if you’ve had this protective layer removed, get it back on. Pronto. It can actually extend your battery’s life!) Another way to extend its life is to spray the terminals with a terminal protector every 6 months or so. And if your battery’s older than 3 years, it’s probably time to get a new one.
Prune your trees.
Did you know that there are over 20,000 different kinds of trees in the world? Twenty-THOUSAND! No matter how many species you have in your own yard, though, now’s the time to prune all but your maple and birch trees. The pull of gravity and the wind’s forces can cause a tree to grow more on one side than the other, so keep that in mind as you get out the shears. And if tree pruning isn’t your thing, call a tree surgeon. A good one will diagnose your ailing trees or remove your dead ones… and take care of everything in between.
