As you enjoy the crispness of the autumn air, the sounds of your favorite football team, and the smell of pumpkin pie baking in the oven, remember to take the time for some fall maintenance items – these will help to maintain the safety and value of your home and property.

Indoor

• Have heating systems cleaned and inspected. Change air filters.
• Check fire extinguishers for expired units.
• Check batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
• For wood burning fireplaces, have them cleaned to eliminate cresol. Open dampers prior to first fire.
• For gas fireplaces, check flow of gas and have serviced for any blockage.
• Check windows for cracks and leaks. Caulk any warped spots or loose spots to prevent heat loss.
• Electric outlets and light switches on exterior walls can let drafts rob you of your warm heated inside air. Special thin Styrofoam insulation template pieces, found at most hardware and home improvement stores, are made just for these drafts.

Outdoor

• Shut down outdoor plumbing and drain the water in pipes by opening the hose bibs to avoid pipes bursting in cold temperatures.
• Seed your lawn to replenish grass in bare spots as well as to fertilize the grass. Nutrients will seep into the soil over winter.
• Clean gutters of leaves and debris.  Inspect gutters for leaks.
• Trim shrubbery around HVAC equipment to allow ample air flow.
• Plant your bulbs for spring blooms.

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Several years ago, the electrical code was updated to include requirements for what’s called an arc fault circuit breaker.  Here’s how that may affect you…

Traditional circuit breakers are designed to trip if there is a rush of electric current passing through a circuit or a massive amount of current that causes the breaker to heat up. Generally, traditional breakers are designed to protect the wiring from the receptacle to the electric panel.

The arc fault circuit breaker is designed to also protect small appliance wires and extension cords plugged into the receptacle. Similar to your ground fault circuit breaker (GFI) which senses moisture and is required in locations like bathrooms, kitchens and exterior receptacles, the arc fault circuit breaker uses a small filter and a logic device to sense an electrical arc and intense heat. They’re currently required in all bedrooms since this is the most common area of the home where a fire may start as result of arcing.

Unfortunately, a vacuum cleaner is one of those appliances that tend to trip the arc fault… and of course you do need to vacuum the bedroom!  You’ll generally find that the older the appliance, the more likely it is to trip the breaker. Newer appliances are being designed to avoid this situation.

The frustrating part is that some arc fault circuit breakers seem to be slightly more sensitive than others so you may find one bedroom trips but another doesn’t. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong, just that there is a slight inconsistency in manufacturing. We’ve run into this before and have determined that it’s not that the arc fault circuit breakers that don’t trip aren’t doing their job, but instead it’s the ones that do trip that are doing their job a little better.

It may be annoying to be limited in your vacuum cleaner outlets, but it’s not a deficiency… just a system designed to protect you.

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We’ve seen many front-load washers installed over the last year. Hurrah! They are great for the environment and the pocketbook. Front-loaders use less water, less soap, and spin clothing almost dry leaving less for the dryer to do. Larger capacity also means fewer loads.

Front-loaders “look different” and “act different” so as the saying goes they must BE different. Take that a step further though… you have to USE them differently.

Load size: Most front loaders can handle a 12- to 20-pound load of laundry. (4.5 cubic feet vs. 3.2 in a large top-load washer) Larger loads actually work better than smaller loads because they keep the load properly balanced and decrease the chance of vibration or “walking”. Although the washer will try to self-balance by slowing the spin so that clothes are repositioned, front-load washers are designed for larger loads.  As one of our local appliance experts says, “If the door closes, it isn’t overloaded… so stuff it!” (Ed DeVries, East Coast Appliance)

Spin speed: If you absolutely must wash a smaller load, consider decreasing the spin speed too.  Most front-load washers have optional settings on the control panel.

Detergent: Front-loaders use HE or High Efficiency detergent. They also typically use smaller amounts of detergent. These detergents are formulated to create fewer suds and leave less residue in your washer. Powdered detergents may not dissolve properly in a low-water front-loader.

Smell?: Some consumers have complained about bad smells emanating from their new washers! Because of the low water level, wash residue such as grime, dirt and even skin flakes, along with water softeners and detergents do not always fully drain out of a front-loading washer. Over time, residue may lead to mold.

Always leave the door and dispenser unit slightly ajar after the laundry is done to let the compartments dry out. Never leave a wet load in the washer overnight; remove it when the washing cycle is complete and leave the door open. Also consider using softener sheets in the dryer instead of liquid softeners in the washer.

Cleaning: Your front-load washer has a large gasket around the front opening. There will typically be a small amount of water and residue left inside the fold of the gasket. (At my house this also includes keys, crayons, nails, or pieces of Mr. Potato Head.) In addition to checking this “pocket” after a wash, and leaving the door ajar to dry, once a month wipe the gasket down with a washcloth and a little bleach.

Vibration: If you find that the washer vibrates too much or “walks” across the room check your owner’s manual for tips from the manufacturer. Two tips that often work are: 1) raise (make taller) the front right leg of the washer slightly. This has the effect of giving that corner of the washer a bit more grip on the floor.  2) Pick up a package of small sticky-backed sand paper disk refills at the hardware store. These are made for small hand-sanders, but work very well stuck to a tile or vinyl floor under the legs of your washer for extra grip.

Although no one “loves” laundry unless it folds itself, learning to use your new front-load washer properly may make laundry a bit more enjoyable.

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