The furnace and air conditioning air filters need to
be replaced, on average, every 3 months,
depending on the quality of the filters, to prevent
breakdowns, poor airflow, and clogs.
Some systems may use more than one filter so
you will need to check the location(s) prior to
purchasing the filters. For example, your property
may have an AC for the bottom floor and a
separate one for the top floor or the furnace uses
one filter while the AC needs another one. Some
filters are located next to the units and others
could be in the air return.
Make sure you know the correct size as well.
Depending on the brand, the size can be listed on
the stickers left on the AC/furnace or written on
the filter tray. You can also pull out the current
filter and the size should be listed on the front or
one of the sides, otherwise, you can measure the
filter but make sure you write down the height,
width, and depth.
Here are some examples of how to replace the
filter, note that some HVAC techs may say “AC
filter” and others “furnace filter”, it depends on
how your specific system is set up; both AC and
heat may be getting air from the same return or
separately.
If your fridge has a water dispenser you will
eventually see a light or a sign (usually in color
red) letting you know that it’s time to replace the
water filter. The common recommendation is to
do it every 6 months.
The filter location depends on the brand and
model of the appliance itself. Some makers put
the filter casing in the fridge section, others in the
freezer and sometimes you can see it just behind
the dispenser itself. It can be at the top, bottom,
or even inside a drawer. If you can’t easily locate it
then just search online for the make and model
and you should be able to find it (the information
sticker is usually inside the fridge but it may even
be on the exterior back panel).
Most brands have official online guides on their
websites or Youtube channels.
There are many different sizes and configurations
of filters so if you don’t already have a
replacement or this is the first time you’re
changing it then you can search online for the
type of filter your brand and model of fridge
needs. You can also just remove the filter you
have and take it to a hardware store and they
should be able to provide you with new filters but
be sure to also have your band and model written
down in case they ask you for it.
Here are some video examples of different brands
and locations:
The alarms start beeping when it’s time to replace
the batteries but the fire departments
recommend checking the batteries every 6
months and replacing them once a year.
Make sure to check the date on the smoke alarm
because replacement of the alarm is required
every 10 years.
There are multiple brands and models of alarms
and each one has its own way of replacing the
batteries. Also, some alarms may use a 9v battery
while others use three AAA batteries and so on;
please make sure to confirm what your specific
alarm uses before purchasing the replacements.
Replacing the battery is usually pretty
straightforward once you have detached the
smoke alarm from the ceiling or wall. You should
be able to search online on how to do so by
finding out the brand.
Here’s a helpful video showing multiple models of
alarms and how the batteries are replaced,
hopefully, one of the examples is close to what
you have at home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djGUZp3p6VY
Thermostat Batteries
If you’re seeing that your thermostat’s display is
not as bright as usual or it’s missing numbers or
they are faded then it may be time to replace the
battery. Some models may show the battery
charge on the display itself.
Keep in mind that not all thermostats are
powered by a battery but a large amount of them
are so it’s important to check what your specific
system uses.
It’s recommended to check the batteries about
every 6 months and replace them once a year or
so.
There are multiple brands and models of
thermostats but the most important thing is to
learn how to remove the cover or panel. Some
have buttons, others use screws or are attached
by pressure. You should be able to search online
on how to remove the cover, the brand is usually
displayed at the front of the thermostat.
Once you remove the cover you will immediately
see if yours uses batteries. Depending on the
model it may use a 9v, AA, AAA, etc. However,
some may have an internal battery that is not
replaceable because it recharges while being
hooked up to the HVAC.
Not all lightbulbs are as straightforward to replace once they have burned out. There are a lot of brands, types, and models of light fixtures so there's no way to take care of this but it's usually something that cna be easily figured out.
The main thing is to know the name of the light fixture you need rto replace the bulb for and you can find many guides online. Here is a basic list:
You can also watch these helpful videos on different types of light fixtures to help give you an idea of what to do.
