Winter Home Care Tips – Check Your Sump Pump

sump pump

It can be easy to forget about your home’s sump pump, and that can lead to potential problems down the line. Luckily checking your home’s sump pump is easy.

It is very important that you check your sump pump before a potential rainy/wet season or after a long dry season (like the last few months here in the capital district). You can always check the owner’s manual for instructions specific you your sump pump model. Most sump pumps can be checked by pouring water into the hole where your sump pump is located. If your sump pump is functioning it should turn on after a few gallons of water have been poured in. 

In addition to to checking the sump pump check the basin for any debris that may have fallen in over the course of time. Removing debris from your sump pump basin will help it run efficiently and prolong the life of the sump pump.

 

Winter Home Care Tips: Ceiling Fans

Ceiling Fan Tip

Did you know that the ceiling fans in your home can help reduce winter heating bills by as much as 10% by just flipping a switch?  

ceiling-fan_switchMost ceiling fans have a switch that controls the direction of the fan blades (see image to the right). In the winter you want to change the direction that the fan blades rotate from counter-clockwise to clockwise and keep the fan on a low speed.

By reversing the direction of  your ceiling fan you create an updraft, forcing warm air that has collected at the ceiling back down to heat your living space. Ceiling fans are especially effective in homes that have high ceilings.

Don’t forget to adjust your thermostat after switching the direction of your ceiling fans!