5 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

  1. Clean every appliance in your house. Your refrigerator’s coils can get dusty and clogged, which makes it work harder. The inside of your microwave should be free of splatters and crumbs; if it’s not, the machine is using energy to cook leftover food particles that nobody wants to eat. Even your dishwasher and washing machine need cleaning—inside and out.
  2. Snake your clothes dryer vent. Do this at least twice a year to rid it of lint and debris, which can catch on fire if it clogs the vent and prevents airflow.
  3. Clear the area around your water heater and your outdoor air conditioning unit. If you’ve got boxes, suitcases, Christmas decorations, or plants stacked up against them, they can’t do their jobs efficiently.
  4. Have your heating and air-conditioning systems checked out by an HVAC professional, who can tell you if they need repairs. Ask the tech to check your filters and change them if they’re clogged with dust.
  5. Change the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t have those devices, move this item to the top of your list of resolutions and install them today.