Completely Unrelated to the ARE 5.0, but Helpful
Unrelated to the ARE 5.0 exam, but still helpful info for household maintenance and safety.
Drain your water heater periodically to flush out the rust and sediment. Getting that junk out will help it to maintain efficiency and will extend the life of the water heater. Seriously, Google a “how-to.” Pretty simple and totally worth it.
Vacuum the condenser coils on your refrigerator and air conditioner. The buildup of dust, grease, pet hair, etc., makes it hard for the compressor to dissipate the heat it generates which can lead to premature failure.
Have an asphalt shingle roof? Use a leaf blower to find loose shingles. Like this:
When you make repairs, the black roofing cement invariably gets on the shingles and looks ugly. Look in the gutters and collect the granules that have washed off the shingles. Sprinkle the granules on the black roofing cement. It’ll blend in with the rest of the roof. Problem solved.
Get some moisture sensors. Place them where you’re most likely to get any unwanted water; below the kitchen sink, cracks in a basement slab, on the floor near the water heater. They’re cheap, they're loud, and they’ve saved me from a major cleanup more than once.
Get a little fire extinguisher for your kitchen. They come in lots of designer colors, like red. Mount it to the back of a pantry or cabinet door. If you ever need one, you’ll be glad you have it. I was.
Do these items when taking a break from your ARE 5.0 study materials.
