Given the change in seasons, and with recent cold temps indicating that winter weather is soon upon us, homeowners may want to follow some home maintenance suggestions, provided by the Big Bear Valley Contractors Association. In the fall, the following are recommended: check and seal windows, upgrade to a programmable thermostat, close critter entrances, shut off hose bibs, check and maintain dishwasher, clean out gutters and outdoor drains, check toilets, clear out sink drains, change furnace filters, and test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Winter-proofing suggestions for the upcoming season include check and upgrade insulation, check and maintain furnace, vacuum air registers, check and flush water heater, recaulk bathtub, maintain fireplace and chimney, replenish flashlight batteries, check gutters for ice, and change furnace filters. Those who need assistance in implementing the home maintenance checklist may want to consult with a local professional, reachable via the website of the Big Bear Valley Contractors Association which, in October, celebrated their 25th year as an association. In this, their 25th year, the BBVCA also implemented the 13-point Community Contractor program which, in conjunction with the Lighthouse Project and their efforts to foster a child-honoring community, is a commitment to an appropriate code of conduct to not only better jobs sites, but neighborhoods in the Big Bear Valley.
