Daylight Savings Time and Home Maintenence

Aside from losing an hour of sleep and gaining an hour of daylight, moving our clocks up an hour is an excellent time to take some preventative steps to protect your home from losses. Here are some quick tips to help you and your family avoid potential disaster simply, quickly and effectively:

• Change the batteries in your smoke detector. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Division, batteries in smoke detectors should be changed at least annually, but it is very common (and recommended by Havlic Insurance) to change the batteries at each time change. It is also advised that you should test the detectors once a month.
• Change the air filters in your furnace. After a long winter of using the furnace, your air intakes will have handled all manner of dust and debris. Changing the filters can prevent fire and improve air quality inside your home.
• If you have a sump pump, test the battery backup system and make sure the lines are clear. Finished basements are quite expensive investments; protect your investment by being proactive in your water removal maintenance.
• Check your roof for damage, and check your gutters for any obstructions. After a winter that saw one major blizzard, and more than a few severe weather events, roofs and gutters this year should be checked. Checking the roof and gutters can confirm that your home is prepared to drain the springtime rains away from your home.

After a long Chicago winter, we're all looking forward to finally spending some time outside. By taking these simple steps, you can make sure your spring and summer are spend leisurely, and not cleaning up after a disaster.