New Year’s Resolutions for a Safe Home

With the new year upon us and having high hopes for a fresh start, many of us are putting extra care and thought into the resolutions we set for ourselves.

When crafting your goals, intentions, and resolutions for the year ahead, be sure to include ones that also make a difference in your environment. No matter the year, you will undoubtedly spend most of your time at home, so why not resolve to make it the place you enjoy the most?

We’ve partnered with our sister brands, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Mister Sparky, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, America’s Swimming Pool Company, DoodyCalls, and Homewatch CareGivers to bring you seven new year’s resolutions for your home!

Keep Your Air Quality High

When it comes to maintaining the quality of air circulating throughout your home, the expert team at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered. They recommend that you regularly change the air filters in your home, as this makes a huge difference in your home’s indoor air quality and energy costs.

When the air filter becomes clogged with dust, dirt, pet hair, and other particles, it reduces airflow to your system, forcing it to work harder. This puts a drag on your energy efficiency, which drives up your energy bills and wears out HVAC components faster.

Different types of filters need to be changed at different intervals. Most disposable filters are designed to last for one month. Others are designed to last for up to three months, but they can still clog up early due to other factors in your home.

A more effective solution is to supplement your HVAC system with an air purification system. This system will remove particles on its own before they can reach your HVAC filter. The team at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning advises that you should consider air purification if someone in your home has severe allergies or a respiratory condition, or if you have multiple pets.

Double-Check Detectors

The experts at Mister Sparky note that smoke detectors have an expiration date with an estimated lifespan of 10 years. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors last between 5 and 7 years. In addition, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month and batteries should be replaced at least once or twice a year.

The start of a new year is the perfect reminder to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You can also confirm that they are not outdated by checking the installation date on the backside of the device.

Don’t Dump Just Anything Down the Drain

For the professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, numerous house calls are made throughout the year due to the wrong items being disposed of down the drain. To prevent a plumbing emergency, avoid having these seven food items in your kitchen drain:

• Oatmeal
• Fats and oils
• Bones
• Pasta and rice
• Eggshells
• Stringy vegetables
• Coffee grounds

When it comes to keeping plumbing clear in your bathroom, only flush toilet paper. Never flush disposable baby or disinfectant wipes, paper towels, facial tissues, or napkins. You should also avoid flushing hair, dental floss, medication, cotton balls, and feminine hygiene products.

If you’ve got a shower drain that’s stopped up with hair, the team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing recommends reaching into your pantry and pulling out some baking soda and vinegar. You can pour a half cup of baking soda, then a half cup of white vinegar, into the drain. Watch for bubbles, then let them sit for about an hour (longer if the drain is really clogged.) Then, turn on the shower’s hot water and rinse the drain.

Fight The Bite in Your Backyard

Mosquitoes and ticks aren’t just a nuisance, they’re dangerous because of the diseases they can transmit to humans and pets. In 2020 alone, 35 states reported cases of West Nile Virus. That number will either remain consistent or increase if we see another wet spring, humid summer and, an active hurricane season in the fall like we did in 2021. The best protection is prevention, so contact your local Mosquito Squad today to get signed up for 2022’s treatment packages.

Maintain Your Summer Outdoor Oasis Year-Round

The pool professionals at America’s Swimming Pool Company recommend keeping your swimming pool open year-round unless you live in an area with hard, continual freezes throughout the winter months. Many regions can plan to open their pools around late March, or as soon as the weather begins to consistently warm up.

However, you don’t have to pull the cover over the pool when Labor Day weekend ends. Plan to close your pool late fall, or as late as you can before freezing temperatures arrive. Closing your swimming pool too early, before temperatures become significantly cooler, could result in a late-season algae bloom, leading to a green pool when you re-open in the spring.

Depending on the filtration system you use, you’ll want to put reminders on your calendar for cleanings. America’s Swimming Pool Company recommends the timeframes below.

• D.E. Filter: Backwash about once a month during pool season.
• Cartridge Filter: Rinse cartridge filter about every 4 weeks and deep clean every 6 months.
• Sand Filter: Change the sand about every 3-5 years.

Protect Your Yard by Cleaning Up After Your Pet

Dogs are a man’s – and woman’s – best friend. They provide us with love, companionship, and joy. What’s not to love about dogs? Their poop. Aside from the annoyance of cleaning up, dog waste also has harmful nutrients in it that can kill your grass. This year, resolve to clean up after your pet sooner rather than later or call the pros at DoodyCalls to take care of it for you.

Extend Care to Another’s Home

A lot of thought and care goes into maintaining a home, but for loved ones who need assistance in maintaining their home as they age, or because of worsening symptoms due to a chronic condition, home maintenance could be a challenge. The team of professionals at Homewatch CareGivers advises doing your own review of a loved one’s overall home safety.

When visiting them, set up appointments for things like a hot water heater checkup, pet clean-up service, tree trimming, and more. Make sure to include them in the process as much as they are willing and able, to minimize feelings of helplessness and boredom.

Mosquito Squad and our Authority Brands family of home services are proud to help our customers enjoy every square inch of their homes. Visit AuthorityBrands.com to find experts that can help you maintain these resolutions for your home – in the new year and beyond!