2 Spring Cleaning Jobs You’ll Absolutely Regret Not Doing

Spring cleaning is a pain. Nobody will debate this with you.

But there are certain jobs around your home you can’t afford to ignore because the cost of not doing them far outweighs the effort needed to do them.

Recognizing which jobs these are helps you prioritize what needs to get done now and what can be procrastinated until another day.

Here are 2 spring cleaning jobs that you’ll regret not doing and should be high on your to-do list.

Draining your water heater

While draining your water heater isn’t exactly a spring cleaning specific job, we’re betting that you haven’t had it drained in quite some time (if at all). So while you’re thinking of essential things that need to be cleaned, here’s a good place to start.

Why does your water heater need to be drained in the first place?

Well, sediment (dissolved minerals) gets into your water heater over time and settles at the bottom of your water heater and builds up. So you need to get rid of all that gunk by draining the tank once a year.

Why you’ll regret not doing it

Sediment buildup will:

• Shorten the lifespan of your water heater by corroding the metal inside the tank over time. This can cause leaks from the bottom of the tank, leading to serious water damage to your home.
• Take up space in your water heater, reducing the total volume of hot water you’ll have to use. You can imagine how this would be problematic when everyone in your family is showering in the morning and you run out of water.
• Reduce the water pressure in your home.

Changing your air filter

This seems like such a small detail, but changing your air filter is an important task, especially during seasons of heavy use of your air conditioner or furnace. Spring is the perfect time to make sure your filter is clean before you need your air conditioner in the summer.

Why you’ll regret not doing it

Keeping a dirty air filter in your ducts will:

• Impede airflow and therefore reduce how much cool air can be recirculated back into your home. This causes your air conditioner to work harder and longer in order to cool your home to the temperature you have set on your thermostat, increasing your utility bills as a result.
• Pass dust and other particles from the filter into your system and then back into your home.
• Decrease the lifespan of your HVAC system since the dirt and dust can cause damage to parts like the fan. Also, systems that work longer and harder are more likely to breakdown.

Spring cleaning you can’t ignore

While spring cleaning isn’t any fun, there are some things you can’t afford to ignore. In which case you need to buckle down and get it done or you’ll pay for it later.

Changing your air filter is a straightforward job, but draining your water heater requires direction.

Follow this simple step-by-step guide to draining your water heater by Consumer Reports or, if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can contact Nicholson online, and we can do it for you.

Nicholson is the Framingham-area’s leading plumbing company. This blog is created to answer Massachusetts homeowners’ heating, air conditioning, plumbing and energy efficiency questions.