Cliff-Notes

        Filters

Do you know when you changed your HVAC filter? The easy way to remember is to change it at the first of every month. How hard is that? Or pick a time in the month you will remember. It is a good plan to buy a year’s supply at one time and put a date on each one in the box. I am a fanatic about changing my filters , because I have seen the damages and the expenses associated with not doing this little task. Even with this in mind, I have pulled out a filter and found that I have missed a month on occasion. The date really keeps me honest. In the Spring or Fall it is not top of my mind as much. In the summer and in the winter it is a good idea to change them every two weeks.

When looking for a house, it is a good idea to inspect the AC filter of the house you might want to buy. This will possibly give you a good idea of owner maintenance. It is not a good sign, when you look in the AC closet and see water stains around the unit, dust around intake vent and registers, the filter door and a dirty filter. This will indicate a future problem. I try to look at the AC unit when I am interviewing sellers and about placing their homes for sale and showing buyers. It tells me a lot about the house and possible inspection problems when I sell the house for them. It is my practice to have the seller change the filter when I put the house for sale and for sure when we get a contract for the home. Many newer houses have very expensive filters installed in the units. They last for 6 months to a year and need to be replaced by factory items.

What about the rinse and re-use filters. Several inspectors have told me that these filters may be a health issue. Think about it being kind of like rinsing your car off but never washing it. The bacteria and who knows what, particularly if you have animals, can build up and never get cleansed. Yuck! When I throw out filters each month a cloud of dust, etc. blows up if I am not careful. The washable filters also wear out and lose their dust catching ability. So in my opinion, get the measurements of your re-useable filter and order or find cheaper ones to replace each month.

I still like to buy the very cheap fiber glass filters and change them often. People buy the much more expensive filters thinking this is a great way to go. Some even say 60 or 90 day replacement. It just seems that these filters are already thick. When combined with infrequent changes you have encouraged the problem we have been discussing. Think breathing through gauze, a sheet, a blanket, a quilt or a pillow. Your call! I think a just buck or two on a inexpensive filter, then change often will do the trick and save thousands in the future.

Go outside, turn around and take a good look at your front door and the surrounding area. Whether you’re selling your home or not, this is the first place guests see when they come to your house. Not many people think about this but when buyers or guests come to your front door, they are standing there for 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes while the Realtor opens the lock box or you answer the door, and they have absolutely nothing to do but critique your entry.

When we pass out our notepads (yes, we actually walk your neighborhood and leave them ourselves) we see some really interesting things. If you come home every day and go in through the garage, you might be surprised at what’s going on at your front door.

1. When people smoke on the front porch, it permeates the wood and

    YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT!

2. Birds that nest under your entry make lots of poo!

3. Your keys are still in the lock!

4. Is this the best place to feed the cat/dog, really?

5. Your Christmas lights are still around the door and it’s July!

6. Guess what?! There a Fed-Ex under the mat from last August!

7. The coiled rubber rattlesnake does it’s job!

Your front door and entry are a reflection of you and your family….go outside right now and see what your front door says about you????