If you’re like me, twice a year when it’s time to change the clocks, you struggle to wrap your mind around what this means in terms of sleep; Will I lose or gain some of that shuteye I cherish so much.  Well, here it is, the ugly truth:  You lose an hour.  Now that that’s covered, let’s get on to some more serious business.

You’ve heard it before – this is nothing new – but for some reason, people still don’t head the advice about routine home maintenance and safety that comes with the changing of the season.  So here it is once again, in list form to make it simple.

This weekend, in addition to changing the clocks, be sure to conduct the following routine Home Maintenance duties:

• Test and replace if necessary the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors.  Make sure these are functioning properly, and be sure that every member of the family – the kids included – is familiar with the sound of the alarm and what it means.  Any used batteries should be disposed of properly.  Retailers such as Canadian Tire have facilities or drop boxes for the proper disposal of batteries.
• Clean out your eaves troughs, gutters and downspouts.  You’d be surprised at the accumulation of debris that can cause backups resulting in leaks and water damage in side your home.  Pine needles in particular are a common cause of blockage.
• For those who aren’t die-hard year-round grillers, the warmer days bring on a desire to fire up the barbecue, so be sure you’ve got a full tank of fuel, and check the lines for cracks and leaks.
• It’s quite disturbing to learn that many of us hold onto vitamins, pain killers and medications long after their expiry.  Conduct an inventory of what you’ve got in your medicine cabinet, and get rid of anything that’s expired.  Take this opportunity to ensure that kids, grandchildren and visiting youngsters can’t reach these dangerous drugs.  It’s also an ideal time to replenish your first aid kit.
• Switch your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights.  They might cost a bit more upfront, but will more than make up for the expense over time as they use only 25% of the electricity and last 10 times longer.