A new year is almost upon us. While many of us may not be too sorry to bid 2021 adieu, we may also not be looking forward to making New Year’s resolutions. After all, we all know what the most popular ones are, and they seem nearly impossible to stick with throughout the entire year.

Are you dreading yet another resolution to watch what you eat or hit the gym more regularly? Let’s talk about some New Year’s resolutions that are easy to do and will benefit your home throughout the year. We’ve broken down these potential resolutions by season, and you can follow the list all year long, doing all kinds of good things for your home and property without breaking the bank or, in many cases, even breaking a sweat!

Winter

• A little basic maintenance goes a long way. If you haven’t already done so as you head into the holiday season, start the year off right by replacing the furnace filter.
• Inspect the house from top to bottom looking for leaks in the plumbing or in the basement.
• Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This is important! You should test these once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. If you haven’t replaced ‘em lately, the start of the year is a perfect time.
• Check your fire extinguishers. Did you know that fire extinguishers actually have expiration dates? It’s true! If yours are expired, it’s time to get new ones.
• As you’re putting away all those holiday lights, check the extension cords and other electrical cords for wear and tear.
• Flush out the sediment in the bottom of your water heater. It’s actually pretty easy to do, and it can save you a costly (and inconvenient) water heater replacement!

Spring

• When the weather begins to warm up—as far away as that may feel right now—it’s time to talk to your Olathe heating and cooling service company about maintenance on your HVAC system. Routine maintenance can help keep your HVAC system running—and running efficiently!
• Want to avoid crabgrass and dandelions in the spring? Resolve to put down some weed preventer on your lawn!
• Spring in Olathe brings with it a lot of rain, so it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your sump pump to make sure that it’s in good working order.
• Power wash your windows and siding. Dirt and grime builds up over the winter, deposited there by winter weather, and a good wash will leave your home sparkling clean!
• While you’re at it, if you have a wood deck, this is the perfect time to clean it and either refinish or re-stain the wood.
• Vacuum the lint out of your dryer vent. Doing this will help your dryer run more efficiently and can even help prevent fires!

Summer

• By now, the weather outside is probably looking up—even if it is maybe a little on the hot side—which makes it the perfect time to touch up the paint, both inside and out.
• This is also the season for pest inspections. Contact your exterminator and be on the lookout for carpenter ants and termites. If you already have a pest management system in place, it’s probably time for it to get changed out and refreshed.
• Because summer is the hottest time of the year, it’s a good time to check your sprinkler system and shop for a new refrigerator. After all, if it’s gonna break down, when’s it gonna be? The time when you need it most.
• Summer is an ideal time to do some repairs around the outside of your house. The weather is warm and (probably) dry, so make the rounds of your fence and repair or replace broken or rotting boards, loose nails, whatever.
• While we’re on the subject: Have you been noticing those cracks in your driveway or front walk? You don’t have to just live with them. Fill them in with some liquid filler or concrete caulk. The warm weather will help it to set faster.

Autumn

• The year has flown by, and we’re almost back around to winter again. Before the cold weather really sets in, talk to your heating and cooling service professionals here in Olathe to get a tune-up for your HVAC system. Do it before you turn the furnace on for the first time.
• Did the heat of the summer leave you with some patches in your lawn that aren’t looking so hot? Now’s the time to put down grass seed. The cooler weather and added rain that come with autumn will help the seeds take root and grow.
• Another way to prepare for winter is by cleaning and inspecting your gutters and downspouts. All those dead leaves and rain can give them a workout, and you’ll want them clear before winter comes to avoid too much accumulation on your roof.
• While you’re at it, have a professional chimney service check out your chimney. Birds and even wasps can create dangerous hazards by nesting in chimneys, and you’ll want to be sure yours is ship shape before you build a nice, cozy fire this winter.

We’re all used to New Year’s resolutions that feel impossible to keep. We all start January 1 with the very best of intentions, but then life happens, and it’s so easy to fall out of good habits and back into bad ones. Fortunately, these New Year’s resolutions for your home are remarkably easy!

Sticking to this list isn’t like hitting the gym more often or going running every morning, where you have to keep at it day after day, all year long. There are just a few simple things, spread out across the course of the whole year. Each one is a small task, and you can even make a simple checklist to help you keep track of what you should be doing each season so that your home looks great, runs great, and stays a happy, healthy place for you and your family to live.

At Davenport Service Company, we’re here to help. Whatever your new year looks like, we can help you keep your home-based resolutions and make sure that your home is in tip-top shape, with everything from water heater service to HVAC tune-ups in Olathe. Just call us today at 913-441-2222 to get started!