With the weather hopefully turning warmer soon, our thoughts naturally turn in the direction of renewing the domestic space around us. Thinking beyond your run-of-the-mill spring cleaning, you can use this season to maintain, repair or replace systems, appliances and accessories around your home. What should you focus on?

Safety should be a paramount concern, and springtime is a good time to replace smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Take advantage of this go-round to replace the batteries with rechargeable ones, which will save you money in the long run over disposables. Make sure that your pellet stove, fireplace, or wood burning appliance  are cleaned and maintained according to your specific appliance to ensure that you’re getting everything out of them that you can. Don’t just shut it down for the season without giving it some attention. Take a look at your garage and make sure you’re not storing toxic or flammable compounds for no reason.

Your home can be better than ever heading into the climate and traditions of high summer. Ensure that your gutters are cleaned and clear for spring rains, and keep in mind that a rainwater collection system will not only help you in the garden, it will be a great benefit to your water bill as well. Ensure that your air conditioner filters have been replaced well before the heat wave so you’re not pushing the limits of your unit unnecessarily. Take another look at your garage – is this the year you replace you haul out and recycle old appliances or donate what you aren’t using?

This is also a great time of year to take strides toward saving money for next winter. Take advantage of when you empty your attic for the inevitable yard sale to eye the condition of your home insulation. As temperatures rise and your home stays warmer in the evening, this is a great time of year to replace insulation with newer, more energy-efficient materials, piecemeal if you have to. Now that you may not need them as much, this is also a good time to make sure your chimney, hood and flue (as applicable) are clean and clear.

Spring is a time of renewal, and it’s more than ever a time for new initiative, creative thinking and inspiration. Take a look around your house and use that energy today!