February maintenance for a mixed-dry climate
Dry air, cold nights and hot days: wide temperature swings, wildfire smoke and freezes.
5 tasks this month. The median typical first freeze across the region’s counties is Oct 24 and the last is Apr 20; your county can differ by weeks.
February5 tasks
- This monthPress the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.
An alarm you have not heard in months may have a dead battery or sensor. NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a month.
How
Hold the test button until it sounds. Anything silent or chirping: replace the battery, or the whole alarm if it is past its date.
- This monthClean the dryer vent duct and the outside vent flap.
Lint in the duct is fuel, and a clogged vent makes the dryer run hot. Fire-safety agencies list failure to clean as the leading factor in home clothes-dryer fires.
How
Unplug the dryer (and shut the gas valve on a gas dryer), disconnect the duct, brush it out, and check the outside flap opens freely.
- This monthFind the main water shutoff and turn it closed and open once.
In a burst-pipe emergency every minute matters, and a valve that has not moved in years may be seized.
How
It is usually where the line enters the house or near the meter. Close it, open a faucet to confirm, then reopen it fully.
- This monthLook under every sink and around toilets and the water heater for drips.
Slow leaks rot cabinets and subfloors long before they show. Catching one early is a washer, not a floor.
How
Use a flashlight: feel supply lines and the shutoff valves, look for stains, warped cabinet floors or a toilet that rocks.
- WatchSoak faucet aerators and showerheads in vinegar to clear scale.
Hard water leaves scale that restricts flow.
How
Unscrew aerators, or tie a bag of vinegar around the showerhead overnight, then rinse.