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Your March Home Maintenance Checklist
by homewarranty.com
Spring is the perfect time of the year to start preparing your home for the warmer months ahead. Get outside and assess any damage your home may have sustained during the wet winter weather. Here are a few tasks to get you started on your March Home Maintenance Checklist.
HVAC
Preparing your HVAC system ready for the summer months is one of the most important tasks to check off our list. Replace your air filters to help your AC do its job. Replace your air filter every 90 days. Check your outdoor AC unit. Remove debris, leaves, and dirt from around the unit.
Detectors
Install new batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Batteries should be replaced semi-annually. Dust all detectors and test them every season.
Ducts
Check your air ducts for cracks or poor connections to keep your cool air indoors this summer where it belongs.
Sump Pump
Check your sump pump for any blockage or debris that can keep your pump from doing its job this summer.
Check Your Deck
Use a garden hose to spray down your deck using a mild detergent. If the water does not bead up, it's probably time to re-seal it with a maintenance coat.
Foundation
Talk a walk around your house and check out its foundation. Look for cracks or leaks that might let water in. Experts say if you can squeeze a dime into a foundation crack, it's time to bring in a specialist.
Shingles
When spring arrives, it's time to for an expert to examine your roof shingles. Look for lost, cracked, loose, or buckled shingles that need to be replaced. Make sure the flashing around skylights, chimneys, and vents is secure.
Gutters
Clogged gutters may not seem like a big deal, but when water is not allowed to flow from your roof and be directed away from your foundation, serious damage can occur to your roof. Depending on your house, you might want to consider a professional to tackle the chore safely.
Pests
Warmer weather brings pests that would like nothing more than to cohabitate with you. Inspect caulking around windows and doors, replace torn window screens, and check your attic for evidence of critters.
Check Stucco and Bricks
Look for chipping on the face of the brick, which allows moisture to penetrate. If your brickwork shows signs of efflorescence (white deposits caused by salt during water evaporation), The Brick Industry
Association recommends dry brushing these bricks in dry weather to remove them. If bricks show signs of water damage, it's time to seal them.
Tackle one or two jobs a week, and your house will be ready to take on summer.
Yes, You Can Start Those Seeds!
We know you're chomping at the bit to get out to your garden, so start indoors. According to the Urban Farmer Seed Catalog, March is the perfect month to get your tomato and pepper seeds started indoors. This ensures the seeds will be ready to plant when you get your garden going. Depending on where you live, this is a great time to start planting cold-weather vegetables like beets, cabbage, broccoli and carrots.
Stay Safe With 10 Essential Items Every New Home Should Have
1. Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors should be the first thing you should have in place.
2. Window coverings not only provide privacy and security, they help with energy efficiency.
3. New door locks guarantee you're the only person walking around town with keys to your front door.
4. Fire extinguishers are another potentially life-saving piece of equipment that every home should have.
5. Home security systems are more available and affordable than ever before.
6. Smart doorbells allow you to see via WiFi who is at your front door from wherever you are.
7. Security cameras can keep an extra eye on what's going on inside your home.
8. A tool kit will allow you to make necessary repairs around your new house as needed without borrowing from your neighbor.
9. A heavy-duty flashlight is a must for every home, in fact, invest in more than one.
10. A safe or lock box is essential for keeping irreplaceable documents or certificates safe from theft or fire.
For full article visit: safewise.com
March 18 Is National Sloppy Joe Day!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 green bell pepper, minced
1/2 large yellow onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1 Tbsp brown sugar (or less, if you prefer)
1 tsp yellow mustard
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Directions
Heat butter and oil in large skillet over MED/ MED-HIGH heat. Add beef and brown, breaking apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Transfer to colander to drain. Add onion and bell pepper to same skillet and cook 2-3 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Add beef back to the skillet and add tomato paste. Stir well. Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
Cook over MED heat for 10-15 minutes, until mixture has thickened to your liking. Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.
Photo & recipe courtesy of: chunkychef.com The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes
