September maintenance for a subarctic climate

September7 tasks

1. This month
   Press 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.

   MonthlyEvery homeNFPA: Smoke alarms
2. This month
   Test the garage door’s auto-reverse.

   A door that does not reverse on contact can seriously injure a child or pet.

   How

   Lay a 2x4 flat under the door and close it. It should reverse on touching the board. Also wave something through the photo-eye beam while it closes.

   Twice a yearEvery home
3. This month
   Book the furnace, boiler or heat-pump check before the heating season.

   In a cold climate the heating system is a safety system. Shoulder-season appointments are easier to get than the first cold week.

   How

   Ask the technician to check the flame sensor or ignitor, the heat exchanger, the flue and the condensate line, and to test CO near the appliance.

   YearlyBecause of a system you told us aboutENERGY STAR: HVAC maintenance checklist
4. This month
   Check your backup heat and fuel supply before deep winter.

   Where winter lows are extreme, a heating failure becomes a frozen house within hours.

   How

   Confirm fuel delivery contracts, test any heat trace on water lines, and know who to call for emergency service.

   YearlySubarctic climate region
5. Watch
   Degrease the range-hood filter.

   Grease-clogged hood filters stop pulling smoke and grease out of the kitchen and can feed a stovetop fire.

   How

   Pop the metal filter out and soak it in hot water with dish soap and baking soda, or run it through the dishwasher if the maker allows.

   Every 3 monthsEvery home
6. Watch
   Check caulk around tubs, showers and sinks; redo any that is cracked.

   Failed caulk lets water behind tile and into the subfloor.

   How

   Cut out cracked or moldy caulk, clean and dry the joint, and apply a bead of kitchen-and-bath silicone.

   YearlyEvery home
7. Watch
   Clear leaves, weeds and debris from around the outdoor AC or heat-pump unit.

   The outdoor coil needs open airflow; blocked fins make it run hotter and longer.

   How

   Turn off power at the outdoor disconnect, clear 2 feet around it, and gently hose the fins from inside out if the maker allows.

   Twice a yearBecause of a system you told us aboutENERGY STAR: HVAC maintenance checklist