“The more you sweat, the luckier you get.”
OK, so maybe that’s not the best quote, given that air-conditioner season isn’t that far away and we don’t want you to be sweating! But what it means is that luck usually isn’t as random as you think—those who seem lucky often put in more work and preparation than others. And that’s definitely true when it comes to keeping your home and its systems in good shape.
For example, is it unlucky when your roof starts to leak? Sure, it could be. Then again, you might have that bucket catching drips in your living room because you ignored warning signs that your roof needed repair, or you didn’t take steps to prevent ice dams (like having Patriot install heated gutter cables). And those things have nothing to do with luck.
Here are a few other things you can do to prevent bad luck from jumping up to bite you, from your heating/cooling/electrical/plumbing systems to other areas of your home.
Stay on top of HVAC maintenance. Yes, this means changing filters (which, as you know, is our favorite thing in the world to talk about here). But it’s also a good idea to get an annual checkup of your furnace and AC units from a professional, so small problems can be caught before you get really unlucky.
Get an electrical checkup, too. If you haven’t had one of these done in a while—or ever, since many homeowners don’t even realize it’s an option—now is a good time. Do you have any outlets that buzz, or that aren’t working at all? Is your breaker panel in good shape? An electrician can help with any issues, or give your system a clean bill of health. (And turn each breaker off and on once in a while; if you leave them in the same position for years on end, they might start sticking and not trip when needed.)
Consider a water-shutoff system. These are designed to detect leaks in your home (not just big gushers, but also the small ones that can go unnoticed for a long time) and turn the entire water system off. That can save thousands and thousands of dollars in repair costs, not to mention the higher insurance premiums or even policy cancellations that can happen after extensive water damage. Some models even have mobile apps that allow you to control your home’s water or get alerts even when you’re away. Our skilled plumbing pros can add a shutoff system to your home quickly and easily—and some insurance companies offer discounts or even full reimbursement for device and installation costs. You might even get a discount on your insurance premiums!
Clear out your dryer vent. While this doesn’t have much to do with our services, it’s one of the easiest things you can do to make your home safer. Disconnect the ducting that runs from the back of the dryer to the wall, and check for lint—which can ignite if you let it build up over time. Just clear the lint with a vacuum or brush, checking the connection to the outside vent as well, and hook everything back up. Then, we hope, you’ll never have to say, “We sure are lucky nobody was hurt when our house burned down.”
Get outside. While there are plenty of preventive tasks to tackle inside, don’t forget your exteriors! Every so often, it’s a good idea to walk around outside to look for signs of rodents, termites, and other pests, make sure gutters and downspouts are clear, trim bushes or trees that are too close to your home, check for rot on decks and balconies, and so on.
It's your lucky day!
If you need a new HVAC system or water heater, you’re in luck—because for March, we’re offering a $500 recycling credit for HVAC systems and $150 off water heaters! (Must be purchased and installed with Patriot, and cannot be combined with any other discounts.) Just give us a call at 509-662-6262 to talk about your project and how we can help.
