Kitchen maintenance is probably the last thing that is on your mind as you are hustling and bustling around your holiday kitchen. Whether you’re trying to stock your refrigerator and freezer full of food for your Christmas party or you’d like to fit a few more dishes into your dishwasher, keeping up with kitchen maintenance can be a challenge during the holidays. This year, why not organize your refrigerator and freezer BEFORE your guests arrive (I know these are often overlooked and not thought about!)? Is it possible you can save some water and energy if you loaded your dishwasher correctly? This season I partnered with American Home Shield to help you get organized and help you ensure your kitchen appliances will look and perform beautifully throughout the season – whether you’re holiday entertaining or not. Take a look at how you and your kitchen can shine throughout all of your holiday festivities, so you’re not stuck with any unexpected costly breakdowns.

Organize your Refrigerator and Freezer Before You Start Cooking: 

I will tell you that you really underestimate your refrigerator until it breaks down. Earlier this year we had tell tale signs that our refrigerator was not going to make it much longer, and it needed to be replaced sooner rather than later. Now that the holidays are here, we don’t have to worry about our refrigerator dying on us. What we do need to think about is organizing our food in the refrigerator and freezer, so we will be organized.

Next to your stove and oven, your refrigerator and freezer could be the hardest working appliance in your kitchen. It’s continually running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and when the holidays come around, it gets stocked full of food, leftovers and family recipes. This Christmas holiday, why not learn how to organize your refrigerator so it can properly cool your food and make it easier for you to get in and out to move on to your holiday cooking.

1. Start out with clean refrigerator/freezer: One of the biggest mistakes heading into the holidays is piling new food on top of older food. Start off with a clean refrigerator by taking all items out and disposing of what is old and questionable! Use a mild detergent and warm water and clean the shelves, the inside walls and doors. Have you ever wondered how to get crumbs and dirt out of your refrigerator seal? Take a look at this American Home Shield refrigerator video:

Dry the refrigerator before placing food back inside.

1. Organizing your refrigerator/freezer: Now that you have a clean refrigerator it’s essential to use the manufacturer’s suggestions for placing food in your refrigerator. A good clue is to look at how drawers and shelves are labeled. Fruits, vegetables, lunch meats and cheeses generally have drawers or bins marked with appropriate labeling. Drawers and bins keep produce fresher, while also serving as a sorting system away from large drinks and shelves. Adjust shelves so you can fit larger casserole dishes according to their size.

As you cook throughout the holiday season ensure you clean up spills immediately. This will help your refrigerator stay clean, and will prevent mystery surprises right before your holiday party. 

Keep your Dishwasher Running Smoothly All Season Long:

Throughout the holidays I always find it comforting to know that regardless of how many dinner parties, cookie recipes and holiday get-togethers I have, my dishwasher always seems to take all of my loads of dishes! Well, until I realize that maybe the way I’m stacking my dishes is the reason why I’m having to run the cycle 2 and 3 times! If I’m not the only one who has this problem, take a look at how to keep your dishwasher running smoothly throughout the season.

1. Scraping food off your dishes can help: Before you load dishes into your dishwasher remove food and scraps so that your drain in the dishwasher doesn’t get clogged. Scraping also allows for the detergent to clean your dishes more effectively.
2. Load your dishes correctly into the dishwasher: Believe it or not, the way you and your family load in your dishes and flatware could be affecting how well they are getting cleaned.
3. Your hard water could be causing more problems: If your dishes stay dirty, the culprit could be your hard water. Try using a teaspoon of vinegar in the rinse cycle of your dishwasher if you continue to have issues. When I guest posted on the AHS blog I gave these 5 Tips for Getting the Most of your Dishwasher.

Take a look at this AHS video to see how loading correctly can save water, time and space.

How to Load a Dishwasher Correctly Video:

Keep your Stove Range Hood Looking & Performing Beautifully

Your stove and oven go through a lot of use throughout the holidays. From heat, steam and even the occasional venting out burned casserole odors, ensuring your range hood works properly is essential. Your range hood vent removes grease and smoke from the air as you cook. If you don’t clean the vent regularly it can stop performing effectively.

Here’s the best way to clean your stove range hood:

Locate the range hood filter: In most hoods there is a latch where the filter is located. Refer to your manufacturer’s directions if you can’t find it. Remove the filter with rubber gloved hands. This won’t be a job you enjoy!

1. Soak your filter: Fill the sink or a basin with a few teaspoons of baking powder, hot water, and a degreasing solution. Soak your filter for 10-15 minutes. This will help breakdown the grease and will reduce the amount of scrubbing.
2. Rinse and let filters air dry: Let your filters air-dry once you have rinsed off all residue and greasy water.

Take a look at this video to learn how to clean out your grease filter:

This holiday season is meant to be enjoyed by you and your family around the kitchen. Ensure your kitchen maintenance for your refrigerator/freezer, dishwasher and stove range hood are all working as they should so you can create holiday memories while cooking family recipes and enjoying festive cheer this season!

For more kitchen ideas on Stagetecture take a look at our kitchen archives.

It’s that time of year again when the days are shorter and the cold air means your home and family are going to start feeling the drop in the temperatures. While we all love the idea of cozying up around a warm fireplace while it’s blustery cold outside, most of us don’t enjoy our heating unit dying on the coldest night of the year! This season of colder weather termed the “hibernation season” is the hardest on your plumbing and HVAC systems, as well as on your family’s comfort. American Home Shield and I have compiled an essential winter home maintenance checklist that will help your home get ready for the hibernation season instead of suffering through it in regret. We also give you some handy tips for organization to ensure your family is ready for canceled school days and winter vacation.

Essential Winter Home Maintenance Checklist Items to Start Now

Try these Plumbing Tips Before it Gets Too Cold: Protect Plumbing Guide from American Home Shield

For most homeowners, the thought of having to check your plumbing pipes inside and outside of the house is only thought of right before the first freeze of the season. The hibernation season means colder temperatures and this is the time to ensure your plumbing lines are ready:

1. Water Heater Home Maintenance: Before the cold season fully sets in consider draining your water heater from sediment that has built up. Over time small pieces of sediments similar to small grains of sand can slowly shorten the life of your water heater. Consider draining it during before winter temperatures plunge below freezing and your water heater has to work harder.

This hot water heater maintenance video from American Home Shield can help.

2. Plumbing Pipes: Leave water dripping in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room and any room you have sinks when temperatures are expected to plunge below freezing. Open under counter cabinet doors around pipes to keep air circulating.

3. Garden and Drain Hoses: Now that the weather is getting colder it is time to disconnect your garden hoses before water freezes inside of them! Disconnecting the hoses also helps your faucet not back up into your internal plumbing system inside your home when frozen.

• Preventative Measures: For exterior water pipes and pipes consider covering them with insulated sleeves. These will help your pipes stay warmer than the outdoor freezing temperatures.

Ensure your Fireplace is Ready for a Warm, Crackling Fire:

When temperatures get cold many homeowners rely on their wood burning fireplaces to help heat their homes. Unfortunately, many accidents occur during the winter season due to dirty chimneys and improper ventilation can cause smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation. Here are some tips to make sure your fireplace is ready:

4. Winter Home Maintenance: Hire a professional chimney sweep: While there are creosote sweeping logs you can burn in your fireplace to remove creosote from your chimney, it is still important to have a professional take care of what you can’t see.

• A chimney sweep will:
  • Inspect your chimney, smoke ducts, flue pipes
  • Help prevent soot fires and gas emissions by inspecting the firebox, smoke shelf and other areas of your fireplace that you can’t reach.

5. Tips you can do for fireplace safety: Once your fireplace is professionally cleaned each season try and keep the firebox free of soot and ashes before you start a new fire.

• Open a window: When using a fireplace allow for fresh air into your home to prevent smoke build-up. Don’t worry the air coming in will go up through the chimney.
• Keep flammable items away: Ensure furniture, throw rugs and blankets, pillows and other furnishings are at least 4-5 feet away from the fireplace while in use.

Keep your House Warm and Air Clean with these HVAC Maintenance Tips:

Your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system (HVAC) are one of the most important systems in your home as it controls the comfort level, humidity, and quality of air in your household. During the colder months, your heating system or furnace can run double duty trying to compete with the outdoor temperatures. These American Home Shield recommended maintenance tips should be checked now to ensure a comfortable winter.

6. Hire an HVAC professional to inspect system: Each season your system should be inspected to ensure it’s working up to its potential. Higher energy bills and your home having problems heating and cooling could be signs of a larger problem.

7. Change your air filters monthly: This tip is one of the easiest because it doesn’t involve a professional and you can do it yourself. Check for the air filter size on the air handler unit and keep a few in storage so they’re no excuses when it’s time to change.

This American Home Shield video will show you how to replace a furnace filter:

8. Learn how to properly use your thermostat: Many homeowners assume they know how to use their thermostat but several thermostats, especially Smart thermostats can actually learn your behaviors and lifestyle habit and adjust to save you energy. Take time to educate yourself and your family on how to properly use your thermostat before the cold weather sets in.

Organize and Clean your Home Before your Family Stays Indoors:

Each winter the opportunity for your family to stay in the house for longer periods of time is inevitable. Whether you’re getting ready for extended family and friends for the holidays or you’re gearing up for snow days from school, these organizing and cleaning tips from American Home Shield will help.

9. Clean out the kitchen and pantry: Have you noticed around hibernation season is when we like to cook, eat and entertain more? Your kitchen becomes the main hub of activity and cleaning out your refrigerator, pantry and utensil drawers will help the chef and family find exactly what they need. Throw out expired food in storage cabinets and why not install new shelf paper where one-too-many containers have spilled?

10. Declutter closets and entertaining rooms: Playing board games, video games, watching television and lounging around the family room are popular pastimes throughout the colder season. Before the chill sets in why not purge old toys and magazines? Donate old coats, boots and winter weather in your hall closet and give to charity or your local church. Visit your local discount store and stock up on new games, crossword puzzles and adult coloring books for those cold nights when the electricity goes out.

This hibernation season is going to be cold, but before it sets in you will be prepared with these home maintenance tips to ensure your family is warm, healthy and comfortable. If you’d like to find more tips from American Home Shield on preparing your home for winter, take a look at this video:

Is your home protected in case of an unforeseen problems occurs? American Home Shield can help with a home warranty. It can repair and replace all of your broken appliances and home systems.

Whether you are ensuring your plumbing and HVAC systems are working properly or you’re gearing up for more time indoors, you will be ready this winter season.

For more home maintenance tips on Stagetecture, search our archives.

Home Maintenance: How To Know If You Need Mold Removal

In order to combat mold, you first need to identify it. How do you know if you have mold in your home? Mold thrives in damp places as The New York Times reports. Take a look and see what symptoms you and your family could be experiencing to trigger if you have mold.

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Most Common Mold Allergy Symptoms:

In most cases, people have no reaction to mold and will likely discover the problem through the smell. However, some members of a household may well have an allergic response to its presence, displaying symptoms similar to those triggered by pollen or animal hair.

The most common symptoms are:

• Feeling congested
• Watering eyes
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Irritated skin
• Itchy eyes
• Itchy ears
• Hives

If mold is left undetected and in place, ongoing exposure can lead to serious health concerns beyond these initial symptoms.

Effects of mold on your health

Ongoing exposure to mold can lead to skin rashes, aggravate asthma, and (rarely) fungal infections may well affect those with extensive immune diseases. These effects are usually temporary, and should clear up following the removal of the mold itself.

In extreme cases, mold may pose a greater risk to households’ health. There are around 16 species of mold which release toxic chemicals (mycotoxins), triggering symptoms like:

• Bleeding
• Impaired mentality
• Damaged internal organs (after prolonged exposure)
• Cancer (after prolonged exposure)

The most poisonous, harmful species of toxic mold is perhaps the most well-known: black mold. Black mold.Award Space warns of black mold having a certain odor. If this is spotted in the home, it should be removed as soon as possible.

How to know if you need mold removal

If you see or smell mold in your home, the key step is to arrange removal while actually combating the moisture issue causing its growth. Simply taking the mold away will not solve the problem.

While some households may well attempt to do this themselves, it is best avoided: professional mold remediation services can do this for you. Mold is typically caused by a leaking roof, burst pipe, flooding, rising damp, or structural problems; condensation is also a common cause.

Mold remediation by mold removal professionals

After hiring a mold removal service, households should take steps to prevent mold returning in the future. A mold-killing product should be used on all surfaces affected by the growth as well as those which appear clean – spores may well have made their way to parts of the room in question discretely.

Mold remediation professionals will wear protective gear when handling mold and treating the affected area. This clothing and equipment includes:

• Goggles
• Dust filter or respirator
• Full-body suit
• Gloves

The room containing the mold itself will be sealed off, to eliminate the threat of spores filtering to other areas of the home. The process itself is time-consuming, but professionals will ensure the problem has been handled effectively to avoid further health-concerns.

For more home maintenance tips on Stagetecture review our archives.

Essential Tips to Know When You Need Appliance Repair

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Refrigerator Repair

One of the first signs that your refrigerator is wearing down is when you can hear it running, especially if you hear loud rumbling sounds. Excess condensation or puddles in the fridge may indicate a sealing problem, a blocked drain tube, or a problem with temperature maintenance. Condensation or puddles under the fridge may point to a leak. If your refrigerator won’t cool, any number of problems could be causing the issue.

Dishwasher Repair

One of the clearest signs that your dishwasher needs repair is if it’s not cleaning your dishes properly. If you always have to rewash or hand wash dishes after they’ve gone through the dishwasher, it needs to be repaired. Another sign is that it’s not using hot enough water to sanitize the dishes. If your dishes aren’t piping hot immediately after the wash cycle has ended, it’s not doing its job. A poor dishwasher seal could lead to a kitchen flood, and pooling water at the bottom means that it is not draining properly and could rust.

Washing Machine Repair and Clothes Dryer

A washer that shakes a lot could need repair. Unusual sounds from the washer usually indicate a strained motor due to overloading or improperly balanced wash loads. Water fill problems, including a clogged filter, twisted hose, and failure to agitate, should also be repaired. If the dryer does not get hot enough to dry the clothing within one cycle and you have not overloaded it, it may need repairs. Unusual belt noises or a failure to turn also indicate a problem.

Other Home Appliances

Other home appliances will also show signs of wear and tear due to regular use. Any appliance that makes unusual noises or fails to function efficiently or as designed will need repairs. Similarly, if it is past the service period, if you haven’t used it in a while, or if you purchased a used appliance, you may need to get it repaired.

A broken and unusable appliance reminds you how much you depend on it and just how expensive it was. If you get it repaired right away, you may be able to extend its life so that you don’t have to replace it right away. Inspect your appliances regularly and call on professionals for assistance with repairs. A professional technician can inspect and repair any issues long before they become a serious and costly problem.

For more appliance tips on Stagetecture, search our archives here.

Image via: Home Ideas

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Winter Home Maintenance: Check Off these Essential Tasks

Flush the Gutters

The drainage system of the roof is important to take care of because it can cause you much hassle and trouble once damaged. Thousands of gallons of water flow through these gutters from the exterior and foundation walls of your home. ACI Roofing says that clogged gutters can damage the exterior surfaces and can let water in your basement. So, it is important to keep them clean to ensure the smooth flow of water. The drainage system is also prone to corrosion and rust. So, try to cover them with mesh guards after cleaning up to prevent rust and the return of debris.

Image via: Element Pros

Seal the Roof Leakage

Taking care of the roof is very important because it can save you a handsome amount of money on repairs. A leaky roof can give you much pain when the dripping starts. Finding the leaks can be hard and time-consuming but you can finish the task by inspecting the roof from top to bottom. Check if there is any damage in metal flashing in valleys, any cracks and wind damage in ridge shingles, and damage around chimneys and vents.

Exterior Walls

The exterior of the walls are needed to be maintained for practical and aesthetic reasons as well. So, inspect the exterior walls of the home and outbuildings to find out any peeling or blistering. So, take care of the exterior walls to save costly repairs in future. In addition, repair handrails and steps to make them safer during the time of snow and ice.

Image via: Resnet

Check out the Heating System

The heating system of your home should be maintained properly for the winter months. Check it and repair if there is any problem. It will be better if you can appoint a licensed heating contractor to check out the system. A professional can do that work efficiently which will result in durability, efficient use of fuel, and less problems. Besides, check your fireplace and wood stove and ensure that they are in a working condition. Stock plenty of wood to get through the winter months.

Sealing the Leaks and Cracks

Sealing is very important, be it your driveway or the windows and doors. Caulk around the doorframes and windows to prevent outside cold and wind and to prevent indoor heat from escaping. Holes and openings in these structures cause water to get in and freeze, leading to mold buildup and racks. Cover he exterior vents with heavy-duty cloth, preventing critters from entering the house but allowing air to escape. Similarly, inspect the driveway and repair any cracks on it. After that, seal them with commercial sealer.

Image via: Leovan Design

Taking care of these little things can make a big difference for your home. These winter home maintenance tasks are not difficult and can be performed by any average ability person.

What winter home maintenance projects are on your list?

Sometimes, it’s not until we see a commercial for termites that it even crosses our mind to think about them in relationship to our own houses. However, reportedly, there are approximately 25 percent of homes that are infested with termites. That’s certainly enough reason to make sure that you know what the telltale signs are of having termites in your own home.

Image via

If you’re not sure what to look for, that’s OK. We have some clear indicators listed right here:

1. Small holes.

The thing about small homes in a house is that you don’t really think to look for them until you see bugs or rodents in your house. In your quest to do your own termite inspection, look around the wooden spaces of your house for small, elongated holes. That is a clear sign that you may need to call an exterminator.

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2. Wood dust.

Termites have to eat just like we do and something that they tend to thrive off of is cellulose. So, if there are places in your house where there is dampened wood (which also means that you could potentially have mold, so it’s a good idea to have that checked as well), dead plants or lots of paper, it’s a good idea to see if there are also piles of wood dust nearby. Termites could be treating your home like a full-course meal.

3. Discarded wings.

If an exterminator in San Francisco or some termite control Houston came to inspect your home, something that they might look for is discarded wings from termites. If they find some, that could be pretty serious because what tends to happen is that when people who aren’t professional exterminators see tiny bugs with wings, they oftentimes assume that they are looking at flying ants when sometimes it’s little “body parts” that termites leave behind.

Image via

4. Hollow and cracked wood.

Do you have furniture that’s made of wood? If so, make it a point to look around for cracks and/or seams in it. Also, if you have real wooden beds or tables, or walls made of wood, it doesn’t hurt to periodically knock on them from time to time. If you tend to hear a hallow sound, that can also be a sign that termites are eating at the wood in your house. You definitely don’t want to overlook these two blaring warning signs that real injury could have taken place.

5. Structural damage.

Of all of the signs that we’ve discussed, perhaps the most telling (and potentially dangerous) indication that termites have infested your home is if you have noticed any structural damage. When things like pillars, posts, windows, doors or panels seemed to be either decayed or severely weak (especially if you’ve noticed over a relatively short period of time), your home may be in a vulnerable position, which means that its structure is not as reliable as you need it to be. This is when you shouldn’t hesitate to call a local professional exterminator and make an appointment before you know the true meaning of termites “eating you out of house and home”.

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Last week I was getting my air conditioner fixed for the warm weather, and this week we are pulling out jackets and long sleeved shirts for the cooler weather, here in Jacksonville, Florida. For many of you the cooler Autumn months have already creeped in, and that means winter won’t be far behind. Today’s Guest Blogger gives tips for getting a jump start on winter maintenance for your home.

Image courtesy of Criagwood

Winter has a way of sneaking up on many homeowners. There’s nothing worse than being unprepared for cold winter weather when it finally hits. Be ready this year with these home winter preparation tips. You will be ready when Jack Frost comes blowing your home’s direction.

 Is Your Furnace Ready to Keep you Warm?

There is nothing worse than turning on your home’s furnace on the first really cold night in fall and having nothing happen.

1. If it’s been awhile since your home’s heating system has been checked, do it before the cold weather hits. HVAC professionals get booked at that time and you don’t want to be shivering.
2. Make sure the area around your furnace is free of debris and contains no flammable materials.
3. Go to the store and get stocked up on furnace filters and be ready to change them monthly. It keeps your furnace running more efficiently and assures you’re breathing cleaner air.
4. If you haven’t already done it, get a programmable thermostat installed.
5. If you use hot-water radiators to heat your home, bleed the valves.

 No More Energy Leaks!

Is your house drafty? You can save up to 30 percent on heating and cooling costs in your home by being sure your energy leaks are plugged, (US Energy Department).

1. Use caulk around cracks and joint areas like windows, door frames, plumbing pipes/fixtures, and even ceilings. You can also install weather stripping around windows and doors. Caulk is great around areas where you need a flexible seal.
2. Other important areas to check for leaks are around electrical outlets, pipes, and vents that go outdoors.  Check more removed places like closets for drafty locations. You might be surprised where you find drafty spots.
3. A big part of your home that can have undiagnosed air leaks are the air ducts. You may want to have an HVAC professional check your ducts and if needed seal and insulate them. It can save you lots of money and wasted energy.

Image courtesy of Pixdaus

 Insulate or Hibernate

Since we don’t hibernate like the bears, it’s never a bad idea to consider putting more insulation in the walls and attack.

Insulation will help your home stay cooler in hot summer temperatures and warmer in the cold winter months. Insulation comes in lots of forms fiberglass to cellulose, rigid foam board , and even spray foam. The best location to add insulation is in your attic, and experts recommend about 12 to 15 inches for the most efficiency.

Get Your Roof Ready

Is your roof ready for 12 inches of wet, cold snow? Are you gutters clear and ready to get unwanted water away from your house? It’s time to check your roof, gutters, and downspouts to be sure they are in good condition and ready to take on Jack Frost.

1. Check roofing to be sure it’s in good repair. Loose shingles should be removed and replaced.
2. Check your gutters and be sure they are clean of any debris.
3. Get out your hose and spray out downspouts to be sure they are ready for water.
4. If you have lots of trouble with falling leaves getting into gutters, consider getting some leaf guards to cover your gutters and keep them free of plant debris.
5. Make sure your flashing is also in good shape. You don’t want water getting into the wrong places.

This post was written by Derek Dasher from YourLocalSecurity.com, your source for ADT home security systems.

For more home maintenance ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

As we all try to improve our home environment and green our lives, have you ever considered that home repairs can also make your home eco-friendly? While many of us think that buying all new energy efficient appliances, and all new low-flow plumbing fixtures is the only way to conserve precious resources, so is repairing your existing home.

Guest Blogger, Crispin Jones, gives tips for making home repairs to make your home eco-friendlier.

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Do you want to do your bit to save the environment? Are you convinced you could be doing more, but confused as to where to start? If so, the good news is that there are some simple steps you can take – for example, shower tray repairs and bath repairs could save you water and energy, and avoid the wasteful issue of having to replace an entire unit or fitting.

Fixing vs. Replacing

Yes – eco-friendly life doesn’t just mean recycling and remembering to turn the lights off.  As a general rule, if you can fix something, that’s much better for the environment than replacing it (except for really old, energy wasting appliances). Shower tray repairs are generally much more cost effective than replacing the whole tray, and bath repairs can give your entire tub a new lease of life.

If you don’t currently have a shower, then there are still some things you can do to protect the environment. For example, if your bath taps are leaky, or your tub is damaged, then you can take advantage of bath repairs to save you water, and also save you money at the same time.  Bath and shower tray repairs could save you a fortune.

Fixing Plumbing

If eco-friendly living is a priority of yours, then small steps such as fixing leaky taps should definitely be near the top of your list.  They’re easy to do, and will have a lasting impact.  In some cases, you can do shower tray repairs yourself, but if you don’t have the time or feel that the job is too big for you to do on your own, then you could call in a bath repairs company to do the job for you. Many specialist companies can do almost invisible repairs, making your fittings look as good as new!

Water wastage can be a serious problem in homes with older plumbing.  A leaking tap can waste as much as 3500 litres per year, assuming it drips once every two seconds.  If your water usage is metered, you’ll quickly see why bath repairs are useful! Shower tray repairs could save you a lot too – a cracked, leaky shower tray could be doing a lot of damage to your floor. Not only that, severe cracks or chips could be unhygienic, or even dangerous – especially if they’re sharp. Do you really want to risk catching your bare feet on a sharp edge when getting out of the shower?

Cosmetic Repairs

Even from a cosmetic point of view, shower tray repairs make a lot of sense. The cracked enamel or the hole in the tray may not be doing any damage, but if it looks ugly it doesn’t exactly make your bathroom a desirable place.  You can spice up the rest of the room with a bit of paint, some new tiles, and a bit of time. Replacing your bath or shower fittings is an entirely different proposition, though. Before you rip out some perfectly serviceable fittings, why not investigate the option of bath repairs. If your existing fittings are fairly modern, then there’s a good chance that they’ll spruce up nicely, and you’ll save time, hassle, money, and waste.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Hometech, experts in bath repairs and shower tray repair. Crispin writes on home improvements and interior design. He is particularly interested in sustainability and environmental issues.

For more Guest Blogger posts on Stagetecture, click here.

It is already the beginning of October and we are up to #20 on our DIY Saturday’s! It is officially fall and time to start getting your home prepared for the fall and upcoming winter months. Today we are focusing on cleaning out the gutters and downspouts of your home.  While some think that this is a straight forward task, to others it is daunting and don’t do it at all.

Why it’s important to clean out your gutters:

• Clean gutters will prevent your fascia boards from drying out and rotting.
• Downspouts keep water from ponding around the foundation of your home, if not cleaned out they can get backed up and cause damage to the foundation of your home from water.
• Ice dams can develop when dirty gutters get full with debris and rain turns into ice, therefore freezing over the gutter.
• When gutters and downspouts are full with debris, roof water will shed off the roof too quickly and can cause ground erosion around your home.

Tools you will need: From ehow.com

• Garden Hoses
• Garden Trowels
• Leaf Blowers
• Large Wooden Spoons
• Plastic Trash Bags
• Buckets
• Caulks
• Extension Ladders
• Gutter Scoops
• Plumber’s Snakes

Step 1:

Gain access to the roof with a ladder. Don’t lean the ladder against a downspout or gutter, which can easily bend or break.

Step 2:

Remove leaves and twigs from gutters by hand or with a large spoon, a gutter scoop or a small garden trowel.

Step 3:

Wet down caked-on dirt, which can be difficult to remove without damaging the gutter itself, then remove it with the gutter scoop or trowel.

Step 4:

Put debris in a bucket or plastic trash bag placed on the roof or ladder. If you use a bag, you can just drop it when it’s full.

Step 5:

Check that the downspouts aren’t clogged. Use water to unclog your downspouts by placing a garden hose in the opening. But be gentle at first; downspouts aren’t designed to withstand the same pressure as a house drain.

Step 6:

If a plugged downspout can’t be cleared with a hose, use a small plumber’s snake or an unbent clothes hanger. Again, be gentle. Gutters are not as strong as house pipes.

Step 7:

Use the hose to flush the gutters with water after cleaning. (This is also the best time to find out if there are any leaks in the system.)

You Tube Video:

How to clean your gutters and downspouts:

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

As each season approaches your home needs regular maintenance to prepare for the upcoming season.  With fall coming in a few months, how about getting a jump on home maintenance to save you money? By preparing your home before the official season starts, repairs, replacement parts and service technicians will cost less because you aren’t in the prime season for home maintenance.

Take advantage of home improvement stores sales through the summer on items that are seasonal – garden hoses, garden tools, and lawn maintenance items will soon be replaced with fall and Halloween home decor. Save money by stocking up on items now, and finding home related issues before your neighbors do!

Bob Vila.com has an article about home maintenance that can be performed now, and leading  into the fall months.

Home Maintenance Checklist:

2. Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.3. Gutters: Clean gutters and drain pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house. (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Drain outside faucets.4. Fireplace: Clean fireplace of ashes. (Fall) Check chimney for loose or missing mortar. Have chimney professionally cleaned. Make sure damper closes tightly. (Spring) Leave damper open for improved ventilation if the home is not air-conditioned

5. Filters: Remember to clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and room fans. Keep heating and cooling vents clean and free from furniture and draperies.6. Safety Equipment: Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries in appropriate devices as needed, or at least twice each year.7. Air Conditioner: (Fall: In cold-climate areas) Remove window air-conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.8. Refrigerator: Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the bill out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. In addition, if you have a coil-back refrigerator, vacuum the coils at least twice each year. Your refrigerator will run more efficiently with clean coils. Also, stock up! A full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.

9. Faucets: Check for leaky faucets in kitchen and bathroom(s). Replace washers as necessary.10. Windows and Doors: Seal drafty doors and windows. If you added up all of the small cracks where heating and cooling escapes from a home, it would be the same as having a window open. Replace seals as needed.11. Storm Windows and Screens: (Fall) Take down screens (if removable type) and replace with storm windows. (Spring) Remove, clean, and store storm windows (if removable). Check and patch all door and window screens. Put screens up (if removable type).

12. Siding and Paint: Look for cracks and holes in house siding or paint. Replace caulk if necessary. A carpet knife can work well for cutting away old caulking from house siding. Slice down alongside it from both directions with the hook-like blade, then use the knife to lift out the old caulk bead intact.13. Basement: Check basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.14. Heating System: (Fall) Have heating system serviced. Change filters.15. Hot Water Heater: (Fall) Drain hot water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.