Something goes wrong with the air conditioner or the toilet clogs when you least expect it. If you’re not a Mr. or Ms. Fixit, you’ll have to go through the expense of calling a plumber, electrician or appliance expert to solve the problem. Unless a part has worn out, pilot error (that’s you or someone in the household) caused the malfunction.

Appliances and fixtures can be temperamental because they’re only designed to work under certain conditions, so take time to learn a little about how each product functions. Even if you don’t think you’re handy, you can do a little preventive maintenance and make a quick fix to handle minor problems.

To extend the life of your appliances and systems, here are 10 helpful suggestions:

1. Keep all booklets, warranties and operating instructions for every system and appliance in one convenient place.
2. Follow suggested scheduled maintenance, such as bi-annual checkups for air conditioning systems.
3. Keep supplies on hand – a plunger, drain cleaner, filters, etc.
4. Change heating and air filters once a month.
5. Clothes need room to tumble to get clean, so don’t overload washers.
6. Empty dryer filters with every load.
7. Don’t put potato peelings, fibrous vegetables such as celery, cooking oil or grease down any drain or disposal.
8. Run water before during and after using the disposal.
9. Put a mesh trap in your shower drain to catch hair and soap buildup.
10. Paper towels, Kleenex, baby wipes and cat litter can quickly clog a toilet, even if the box says the contents are safe to flush.

Take advantage of this winter season! There is no need to wait till spring to start investing in your home and yourself. Enjoying the space, you’re living in will make the holiday season that much more filled with joy.

1. Revisit your lighting!

You will be spending a lot more time inside, invest in energy-saving lightbulbs to save you money this winter! Address if you enjoy the lighting in your home currently. Make sure that you find the lighting pleasant and that it offers you the proper lighting for how you’re utilizing the space. A bonus for yourself could be investing in a few sun lamps since you won’t be seeing the sun as often!

2. Stop the leaks and holes!

Make your house more energy-efficient and keep out any critters. This will help keep your energy bill low, keep the cold air out, and stop you from having to call pest control. It’s often easier in the wintertime, for you to notice the leaks with such a temperature disparity outside.

3. Update your home décor and declutter

The wintertime is often a time to find ourselves cozying up indoors, so make sure the space you are occupying is a space not only you enjoy but also makes your life easier. This is a great time for you to address any home décor issues you have and take the time to update them. More so, when’s the last time you took a hard look at your laundry room? Does this space feel usable? Could it be better? Not only will this make your life easier, if and when you decide to sell. Decluttering will showcase the space’s full potential to prospective buyers.

4. Change batteries in the smoke detector

There is never a good time for a fire accident to happen, but winter is absolutely a terrible time. With the increase in time, you are spending inside, heating your home, so does your risk increase. Take the time to go around and check all your smoke detectors. While you’re at it, take the time to check your carbon monoxide detectors too.

5. Install a new programmable thermostat

Speaking of heating your home. Take the time to upgrade your thermostat to a new programable one. This will make a huge difference in your heating bill and increase the value of your home. An added bonus to upgrading is that if you upgrade through your energy company there is a large chance, they will be eligible for instant enrollment bonuses and instant rebates, and it’s better for the environment.

Take advantage of this winter season! There is no need to wait till spring to start investing in your home and yourself. Enjoying the space, you’re living in will make the holiday season that much more filled with joy.

It’s still warm and cold weather is a few months away, but this is the best time prepare your home for winter.   First, it’s warm enough to enjoy being outdoors.  Second, busy service professionals may need to be scheduled weeks in advance.

Have your heating system checked.
Have your heating system cleaned and tuned by a qualified furnace service.  A pre-season tune-up is a good investment. It reduces the chances of breakdowns in the middle of winter, improves safety, and pays for itself through more energy efficient operation.

Check your furnace filter.
If it’s old and dusty, you should replace it. Furnace filters must be changed regularly to maintain the efficiency of your furnace and to prevent dust from spreading through your house.

Protect against carbon monoxide.
Any fuel burning appliance — gas, propane or oil furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater, fireplace, or wood stove — can put dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide into the air if they are not working properly.

You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at a high level in can kill a person in minutes. Because the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to food poisoning, viral infections or the flu, you may not realize that CO poisoning could be the cause. Even at moderate levels, carbon monoxide can cause headaches, tiredness, nausea, mental confusion, and shortness of breath.

A carbon monoxide detector can be purchased at any hardware store and should be placed in a hallway or sleeping area. If carbon monoxide is present in your home an alarm will sound.

Clean the gutters.
This not anyone’s favorite job, so it’s best to do when the weather is nice. Remove leaves, sticks, and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This will prevent ice damming, a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house, causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.

You may also consider installing “gutter guards.” Available in most hardware stores. Gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.

Trim trees and remove dead branches.
Ice, snow and wind could cause weak trees or branches to break and damage your home,  car, or pull down your electrical and internet wires.

Cover your air conditioning unit.
This appliance is often neglected when the “Cool” is switched to “Heat”.  Winter’s freezing and thawing can damage the unit’s fragile cooling fins, reducing its efficiency and life. Covers are sold in all hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowes, ACE, etc.) and easy to install.

Garden hoses and irrigation systems.
These are easily forgotten once they’re no loner being used. Remove hoses from the faucets and store for the winter.  Underground sprinkler system should be “blown out” so that no water remains in the system. There are services that can do this for you.

Energystar.gov offers a great deal of information for homeowners. From tax credits and rebates to referrals to qualified contractors, you’ll learn about Energy Star®-certified products you can purchase and install in your home that save energy, money and the environment.

The energy star program was established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to benefit consumers by encouraging manufacturers to create the most energy-efficient and cost-effective products in about 75 categories. Since 1992, Energy Star and its partners have saved U.S. families and businesses trillions in kilowatt-hours of electricity and helped them avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs.

For non-businesses, Energy Star tax credit benefits are limited to homeowners for their primary residence located in the United States and include the following:

• Air Source Heat Pumps
• Central Air Conditioning (CAC)
• Gas, Propane, and Oil Hot Water Boiler
• Gas, Propane, and Oil Furnaces and Fans
• Water Heaters (non-solar)
• Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan
• Biomass Stove
• Insulation
• Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
• Windows, Doors, and Skylights

The tax credits for residential renewable energy products include geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, solar energy systems and fuel cells. In addition to federal tax credits, local rebates and offers may be available in your area.

Check the ENERGY STAR^® Rebate Finder, where you can enter your zip code to find rebates and other offers in your area. Also, contact your local utility or state energy office about any available incentives or programs.

There are pros and cons to all types of stone countertops. How do you choose which ones are best for your home?  Knowing the properties of each type of stone will help you make the right decision.

Granite – There are over 3,000 types of granite. Despite its strength, granite is porous, which means it can absorb stains unless it’s sealed. It can crack if not properly fabricated and installed. Yet, granite’s beauty and variety make it the most popular choice for countertops.

Soapstone – Soapstone is a “magnesium-rich metamorphic rock” containing up to 80% talc, making it ideal for carving. However, there is a stronger strain called architectural soapstone that is impervious to staining and scorching. Damage can be sanded out. It requires no sealant, but mineral oil helps develop its patina, which darkens with age.

Marble – Marble is one of the most beautiful stones and is frequently used as in small amounts such as a bathroom countertop. It stains and scratches easily and requires sealant, making it less popular for kitchens. Like granite, it adds value to the home.

Quartz – Engineered stone is man-made of approximately 93% quartz and the remainder in resins. Developed as an alternative to granite, it’s nearly as expensive, but performs much better. While granite, soapstone and marble feature artistic veining and natural “flaws,” quartz is manufactured to have uniform patterns and colors. The advantage is a surface that requires no sealant that’s more durable and scratch resistant than natural stone.

Home security experts agree on one thing – intruders look for homes that appear easiest to break into and escape from quickly. The more obstacles you place in their way, the more likely they are to skip over your home and move on to someone else’s. Try these three tips to make your new home safer.

Lights! – Nothing says nobody’s home like a dark house. This is where landscape lighting is a useful deterrent. Don’t give intruders any places in your yard to hide, so be sure to install lights on trees. Make your lights come on at dusk and light up entries front and back. Motion detectors work well, too. If you’re away from the house, attach timed devices to one or two lamps that periodically turn on and off.

Cameras! – Cameras placed around the perimeter of your home should be visible from the street so that anyone cruising by can see them. You may have noticed on the Internet that cameras are also useful in crime-solving as well as prevention, so security cameras protect your neighbors, too.

Actions! – A security system is expensive, but it’s a good idea, especially when you put the provider’s sign prominently in your front yard. A vigilant barking dog, regardless of its size can hear and smell intruders before they enter your home. Install prickly bushes under windows and keep them trimmed.

Remember, locks on doors and windows may not be enough. Multiple and highly visible obstacles are much more effective to deter intruders.

Many cultures use red front doors to communicate something about their beliefs or status. Since the first biblical Passover the red door has symbolized God’s protection, assuring that plague and the Angel of Death would pass the household by.  Red doors can also symbolize the blood of Christ, which is why so many churches and cathedrals feature red doors.

Early American settlers used red front doors to offer friendly shelter for weary travelers and their horses.  By the Civil War, red front doors in the free Northern states were used by the Underground Railroad to signal safe houses for runaway slaves and other refugees.

In China, red doors say welcome, as is practiced by Feng Shui enthusiasts. The color red is believed to bring health, harmony, happiness, positive energy and prosperity.

The Irish and Scottish also had uses for red doors.  When Queen Victoria died, the Irish were asked to paint their front doors black in commemoration and mourning, but many rebelled and painted their doors bright colors, including red.  Many Scots today paint their doors red to signal that their mortgages have been paid off.

There are as many shades of red doors as there are traditions.  However, red doors don’t hold much significance today, except as a statement color to still convey a cheerful welcome to visitors.

September is the ideal time to make little home improvements that could make a big difference once winter hits.

Get the furnace ready.  A clean, well-maintained furnace will perform better, helping to keep fuel costs down and making the home’s air quality better.  Remember to change the air filter every thirty days.  A dusty, clogged air filter will cause the furnace to work harder, reducing its efficiency and causing it to wear out sooner than necessary.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  With furnace weather on the horizon, you will also want to make sure  smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning correctly.  The life expectancy of a smoke alarm is generally 10 years, after which point their sensors can begin to lose sensitivity.  The test button only confirms that the battery, electronics, and alert system are working; it doesn’t mean that the smoke sensor is working.  The detecting components of carbon monoxide detectors lose their effectiveness after 5 to 7 years and may no longer detect carbon monoxide.

Check the roof.  It’s important to check the condition of a home’s roof before winter. The key things to look for are cracked or damaged shingles and caulking issues.  Caulked joints can dry out and crack during the summer months making openings for melting winter snow to enter the home.

Improve the air quality.  Mold and mildew thrives during the summer in poorly ventilated areas like a home’s basement or around leaky pipes.  There a number of good products sold at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot that will help eliminate mold before you’ve button up the home for the winter.

Replace weatherstripping on doors.  There could be gaps that you can’t see and that can jack up your energy costs.  It’s a simple fix that can be done with items found at your local hardware store.

Clean gutters and downspouts.  Clogs in gutters and downspouts can cause ice to form into an ice dam.  With nowhere to go the water backs up under the shingles and leaks into your home.