Lately the weather has been warmer, and I can tell the days are getting longer. I checked and Daylight Savings Time is on March 13, meaning that spring is coming soon and there are a lot of projects to complete.
First and foremost, whenever we move our clocks forward or backward, we need to change the batteries in our smoke detectors. I counted and there are five of these in my old house. Time to go shopping for those batteries. If your carbon monoxide detector is battery operated, you should change that one, too.
It’s also time to do some spring cleaning. I am thinking of cleaning out my refrigerator of expired foods, cleaning my oven and re-organizing my kitchen cabinets.
I’ll also start phasing out my winter wardrobe for summer clothes. I’ll pack away the sweaters and boots for lighter clothes and sandals.
I’ll also reverse my living room ceiling fan. Over the winter, I switched the blades to they are blowing warm air down into the room. Once the days get hotter, I’ll want those blades going the other way so they move the air around and cool us down.
Daylight Savings Time is also a good time to switch out or clean filters around the house. These can be from your furnace, air conditioner, stove hood or vacuum cleaner. You can also make sure the hose from your clothes dryer is clear.
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the warmer seasons. Once I get these projects done, I’ll be that much closer.
Lisa, an Avista customer, bought her 1910 house because she loved the old-world character, some of which doesn’t make her house very energy efficient. Lisa is sharing her experience on taking some simple do-it-yourself improvements to inspire others to do the same. You’ll find her stories right here every Tuesday morning.