Checklists Archives | APHW Windermere

Are You THAT Kind of Holiday People?

Posted on November 25, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

There are two types of holiday people: Those who decorate, and those who DECORATE. Either way, lights are involved.

Our question to you is this: When was the last time you really inspected your home’s electrical? Better yet, when was the last time you had it professionally inspected?

Is it safe?

Use your holiday decorating as the perfect excuse to do that inspection. Check out this Home Electrical Safety Checklist* for an in-depth list covering what to look for, and when to call in the professionals.

And for the love of Pete: Don’t overload your sockets this holiday season!

Trust us—the light show isn’t worth burning down your home.

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical in any capacity.

Don't set your oven on fire this Thanksgiving: Cleaning Tips

Stove & Oven Prep for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 20, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

When the season means more time in the kitchen, the last thing you need is for your stove or oven to quit on you—or worse, start a fire. Semi-regular maintenance can go a long way toward ensuring they will work when you need them most, like when the whole family is over for Thanksgiving!

Keep a Schedule

You probably clean your stovetop regularly, but when was the last time you cleaned your oven? Make sure to clean it at least two to three times a year; more often if you use it frequently.

Be Aware of Electrical Hazards

There are electrodes behind the knobs on your stove that can be damaged by harsh chemicals, heavy scrubbing, or excess water, causing short outs and possibly even electrocuting you. The same goes for electric ranges with open heating coils, as well as the inner workings of your oven. Always follow this rule of thumb: Careful cleaning around attachments!

Oven Cleaning Conundrums

Is it self-cleaning? What does that even mean? Here’s the short version: A self-cleaning oven has a cycle that will superheat the oven over a period of time to incinerate any food particles inside. If you choose to use this function, ensure you follow the manufacturer’s suggested procedure. After it is complete and fully cooled, wipe down the inside to remove any remaining residue.

If you choose to clean a self-cleaning oven manually, make sure you use a cleaner designed specifically for self-cleaning ovens, as the wrong cleaner can cause more harm than good.

It’s also a good idea to unplug your oven prior to cleaning manually inside, to eliminate any risk of electrocution.

Don’t Be a Turkey

In the end, a little elbow-grease will go a long way toward increasing the lifetime of your range. Keep it up, and have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!

How to Winterize Your HVAC A/C Unit

Posted on November 14, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Most of the northern states are already covered in snow, but we’re expecting a warm-up to melt it all away by next week. Take advantage of that melt-off and winterize your HVAC air conditioner, if you haven’t already.

Why winterize it?

Simply put, preparing your unit for winter can save you money in repairs.

It will:

Prevent debris from getting caught inside (creating jams)
Prevent small woodland creatures from nesting inside
Prevent the unit from starting up on a warmer winter day
- (Allow melting ice and snow to melt and drip inside the unit, refreezing and causing damage)
Protect your piping

Want to know how?

Visit “Time to Winterize Your Central Air Conditioner”* for a step by step checklist.

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^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with FrostKing.com in any capacity.

String of Jack-o-Lantern lights w/ Title: Is Your Yard Safe for Trick or Treaters?

Keep Your Holidays ‘Safely’ Electrified

Posted on October 29, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

When do you start getting into the ‘holiday’ season? November 1 is commonly accepted, though Halloween enthusiasts might disagree. Regardless, there’s a common thread between all of them: Electrical decorations.

Who doesn’t want a giant inflatable jack-o-lantern/turkey/snowman in their yard? Besides the big stuff, well-lit walkways and candle alternatives are important for the safety of visitors; especially when dozens of children are likely to stop by.

Keep your family and loved ones safe this holiday season (plus save some change on the bills) with these tips in “Halloween Decorations – LED Halloween Lights & Safety”.*

Did you know America’s Preferred Home Warranty can help financially in the event of some electrical failures? Call 800.648.5006 or visit APHW.com for more information.

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with ElectricityPlans.com in any capacity.

Man fixing roof while onlooker comments from below, "Not what I meant by Ventilation, honey."

There are Holes in Your Roof!

Posted on October 21, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Okay, okay, the TECHNICAL term might be ‘ventilation.’ But there are multiple reasons why you should take a look at your roof anyway (or have a professional do it) before the snow starts flying:

Clogged gutters can cause ice dams and water damage

Shaded areas may have streaking (fungus, moss, mildew, or algae growth)

Overhanging branches could damage shingles

Insufficient ventilation may lead to dry rot

And that’s just the tip of the shingle (ha ha).

Your roof is literally THE most important part of your home: It protects everything else. Give it some TLC with these 10 Roofing Maintenance Tips for Lasting Roofline Results.^*

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Great Day Improvements LLC in any capacity.

Don’t ‘FALL’ for it! Maintain Your Home

Posted on September 15, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

PUMPKIN SPICE! Okay, seriously though, focus: You have a (PUMPKIN SPICE) home to maintain and colder weather on the (PUMPKIN SPICE) way, so it’s really time to take a look around your home and… (PuMpKiN sPiCe) …erm…

AHEM. While this season does offer MANY distractions, now is the best time to maintain your home so you can sit back and enjoy the cooler weather without worrying about the actual COLD weather ahead. Check out this Fall Home Maintenance Checklist* offering a useful lineup of tasks, many of which you might not even think about on a regular basis. Out of sight could lead to out of pocket if you let things go too long, so let’s get to it.

We can reward ourselves with pumpkin spice afterward, I promise.

^*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Forbes.com in any capacity.

Save Your Summer Sanity: Home Maintenance Tips

Posted on July 9, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

We all take care of those everyday tasks like laundry or the dishes, but when was the last time you cleaned the dust out of the heat vents? Deep cleaned the bathroom drains? How about de-linting the dryer vent and exhaust ducts?

These are the tasks folks tend to forget about. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind, right? They may seem minor, but if left long enough, some tasks can be dangerous to your home and family—can we say ‘dryer-fire’?

Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. A little maintenance can go a long way, as they say, so check out this list of 30 Summer Home Maintenance Tips* you can check off one by one, and have a safe and fun summer season!

*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with InsuranceHub in any capacity.

Do the Right ‘Spring’: Maintain Your Mansion

Posted on March 7, 2019 | by Clive Gillett

Northerners may be considering some groundhog revenge—He said Spring would be EARLY this year!—but those down south are enjoying some much warmer weather. So, let’s dust off the old Spring-Cleaning chore list, and while we’re at it, let’s give your home a check-up too. (Don’t worry, Spring will make it up north eventually!)

Inspection Suggestions

Pretty much every joint, corner, panel, shingle or window in your home is a good place for nature to try and wriggle through. Help your home (and your budget) with a thorough inspection of each room, including the basement and attic.

Look for worn, cracked or flaking caulk or seals.
Check for cracks in your foundation.
Inspect your roof, especially around your chimney.
Look over gutters and downspouts.

Walk around inside and outside slowly, taking notes as you do—so you can check each one off as you fix it and none get forgotten. While this may seem tedious, it’s necessary: Small issues have a habit of becoming much bigger (and more expensive) issues when left to their own devices.

While you’re looking around, take notice of any exposed piping or tubes in your home, like those connected to your washer and dryer, or the pipes beneath your sinks—Spring is a great time to check for leaks.

Dust EVERYTHING

Yep, you read that right. Pull out those appliances (gently—you don’t want to break any connections) and use a vacuum brush extension to dust the back and underneath. Dust all those shelves that nothing ever moves on. Go through your entertainment center and dust all the connections. Clean up underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks and wipe down any exposed piping in your basement.

Why so thorough?

Dust is essentially dead skin cells, so… ew.
Many-legged critters like to hole up in dark spaces for the Winter. This is their eviction notice.
The more dust that builds up on your appliances, the harder they have to work, which reduces their lifespan.

Isn’t one day of dusting each year worth the money they would cost to replace? Plus the other two reasons?

Some Other Considerations

Test your Sump Pump
Check the Water Pressure
Drain Sediment from your Water Heater
Lubricate Often-Used Mechanics (such as a garage door opener)
Clean out the Dryer Vent
Check the Garage Door for Balance
Clean your Air Conditioner
Test/Replace Smoke Detector Batteries

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Handling the Holidays: Part II of III

Posted on November 29, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

You’ve made it through Thanksgiving, and hopefully gotten a head start on the rest of the year! Here are a few more checklist items for you, to keep you on track.

Dec. 1 – 8

Gifts En Masse – You’ve got neighbors, coworkers, associates… so many people, so little money. This is where buying gifts in bulk, like holiday cookies or boxes of candles, can come in really handy! It shows you’re thinking of them, without breaking the bank. Throw a bow on top, and you’ve even saved yourself some extensive wrapping!

Menu Planning – This helps to organize what you have vs. what you need to get, as well as what can be cooked the night before vs. what needs to be made that day. Did you know most potato dishes can be made a day early?

Review Your Décor – Every year there’s something broken or missing hooks to go buy. Save yourself some grief and look through your decorations now, so when the time comes to put them up, you’re ready and don’t have a last-minute trip to make in the blinding snowstorm that inevitably happens.

Dec. 9 – 15

Clean (part of your) House – You’ve got a lot of house if you’re throwing a party, so you might as well break down the cleaning schedule into manageable tasks. Clean the less-used rooms in this go-around, such as guest rooms, to get started.

Distribute the Décor – Did you know that live greenery lasts longer outside than in? You can put it up earlier and it will still look beautiful at your holiday party. Don’t forget to doublecheck your electrical connections for safety! Go ahead and do your indoor decorations too, though you may want to put any indoor live greenery out closer to your event.

Finish Your Philanthropy – AKA, finish up your gift shopping and get the rest of those presents wrapped. You have enough to do with food and place settings the day of your event without having to worry about last minute wrapping, which just makes another mess to clean up. This also allows you to ship gifts early enough to arrive for Christmas, if you’re shipping them out.

Create a Playlist – Whether your event is a block party or a quiet holiday dinner with family, set the mood with the perfect playlist, so you can have it keyed up and ready to go the day of.

Don’t miss Part III of this series, coming soon, and you can also find some awesome holiday ideas on our Pinterest page. Have more useful tips? Comment on our Facebook page!

Handling the Holidays: Part I of III

Posted on November 15, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

The holidays are crazy. Whether you’re shopping for a family of fifteen or preparing meals for the block, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of what-all needs to get done. So, what can you do about it? Organize!

We know, writing everything down to ‘check off’ is a chore you don’t exactly want to add to your list of things to do. So, here’s a pre-assembled list for you. Enjoy!

Nov. 18 – 24

Thanks-Getting – This week is largely focused on preparation for Thanksgiving, so your first task is to organize what foods you plan to prepare, create a shopping list, and get those foods.

Keep the Kids Happy – If you have ever had children attending your dinner before, you know they don’t typically sit quietly and eat the entire time the adults are chatting away. Organize an activity or two for when they ‘finish’ that can keep them occupied (at least until they come back for seconds).

Food Prep – Set up any foods that can be pre-made the day/night before, and organize your cooking schedule the day of to alternate between things that will take up space in/on your range and things that don’t require one, such as the salad or cranberry sauce.

Ask for Help – If folks start showing up early, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance! There is no rulebook anywhere that says you have to do it all yourself, so save yourself the stress of trying to prepare a meal and be a host at the same time, and just ask them to help out in the kitchen. They’ll probably be more than happy to oblige!

Nov. 25 – 30

Holiday Greeting Cards – Get cards and stamps (or even e-cards) out of the way early, to avoid a last-minute “Oops, I forgot Grandma!” situation. Write down a list of your family and friends so you don’t forget anyone.

Start Gift Shopping – Seriously, the earlier you start, the less stressful it is, and it helps you avoid an all-nighter. To save time and frustration, write down who you are buying presents for, and a specific list of items. This will also help you prevent overspending on impulse gifts. Shopping for an hour or so after work on weekdays/nights will get you in when the stores aren’t as crowded, too.

Check back soon for Parts II and III, and for other holiday ideas, check out our Pinterest page!