SUMMER

- Keep curtains closed when temperatures are at their peak.
- Use exhaust fans when cooking to remove excess heat and humidity.
- Close registers in rooms that are not being used. To avoid damage to your central
   heating system, close no more than one fourth of the area of your home.
- Caulk and weather-strip all windows to close any air gaps.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees.
- Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use.
- Move furniture away from vents, registers and radiators.
- Change the filter on forced air units.

WINTER

- Install a door sweep.
- Caulk or apply weather-stripping around problem draft areas.
- Clean gutters and downspouts in mid-fall and double-check them before winter.
- Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned early in the season.
- Close the flue when your fireplace is not in use.
- Move furniture away from vents, registers and radiators.
- Open the drapes during the day for the free solar heat and close them just before sunset.
- Change the filter on forced air units.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL

- To clean the disposal, push ice cubes through it while running cold water.
- Always remember to run water during use and for at least two minutes after you finish. This prevents stoppage.
- If the garbage disposal is leaking, check to make sure that the sink and drain connections are not loose.

DISHWASHER

- If your dishes aren't cleaning well, run the hot water from the tap. This will allow hot water to flow to the dishwasher immediately. Also check that the hot water setting is correct.
- Vinegar should take take mineral deposits off the heating element which causes dishes to stay wet. Make sure element is not hot when cleaning.

WATER HEATER

- If the water heater is not hot enough or is too hot, make sure your thermostat is set correctly. A water heater blanket is helpful to keep the water temperature constant.

GAS RANGE

- IMPORTANT!!! If you smell gas around your oven, turn your gas off, air out the room and notify the gas company immediately.
- If the flame on your cooktop isn't burning steadily, turn off the burners then clean the burner surface. Afterwards, reset the burners.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

- If any lights or outlets don't work, check your breakers at your electrical panel.
   If a breaker is not in the on position, turn the breaker off and then on. Or call First American if you have a warranty already in effect.

HEATING SYSTEM

- Check filters bi-annually.
- Set your thermostat to 69° F or less during the day, 60° F or less at night (or when you leave your home for more than four hours).
- Bundle up. Try putting on a sweater or throwing an extra blanket on the bed before you turn up the thermostat.
- Bundle your home too. Exterior doors should be tightly shut and avoid frequent in-and-out traffic. Padded door runners help reduce drafts under doorways.
- Use zone heating. Don't waste energy and money by heating a room you're not using. Close doors and/or vents to that room. To avoid damage to your central heating system, close no more than one fourth of the area of your home.
- Use solar power. On sunny mornings, open your drapes on the eastern and southern windows of your home. In the afternoon, open your drapes for your western windows to get the most exposure to the sun.

AIR CONDITIONING

- Replace filters monthly during the hot summer season.
- Have annual system maintenance service done before the air conditioning season begins.
- Keep condensing unit free of debris.

POOL MAINTENANCE

- Clean your pool at least once a week.
- Remove debris with a hand held skimmer net.
- To maintain a proper water level, add fresh water and allow the water to flow into the skimmer every time you clean the pool or when needed.
- Take a water sample into a local pool store so they can test your pool's chemical
   levels. Green water may be a chemical problem and not a mechanical problem.
- Vacuum and scrub the pool walls to remove accumulated dirt, scum, and oil.