Here is a month-by-month look at home-maintenance projects that will save you money in the long run.
First up: January, when you should check your air filters and plumbing. Click through the images at right to see tips for the rest of the year, or read them below.
January: Check the air filter on your heating system monthly and clean or replace as necessary. Open and close cutoff valves to sinks and toilets, to be sure they're working properly.
February: Clean lint from dryer ducts. Be sure flexible exhaust pipe behind dryer isn't pinched. Consider replacing plastic pipe with metallic. Be sure exterior vent flap closes properly.
March: Repair, clean and seal wood deck at least every other year. Replace damaged or twisted boards. Deck stains with pigment last longer than clear sealers.
April: Your asphalt roof should last 20 years - if you don't ignore it. Clean leaves from roof valleys. Wash mildew and moss from shingles. Use prepared cleaner or mix your own.
May: Scrape and touch up spots where paint fails most often, allowing water to penetrate. Check window sills and gable vents, especially on western and southern sides.
June: Clean refrigerator and freezer coils. Check for leaks behind dishwasher toe panel. Replace cracked washing machine hoses. Clean filters then reattach hoses.
July: Be sure air conditioner's condensation drip tubes are flowing freely. Clogs can damage your system and the rest of your house.
August: If you smell a musty odor, check ducts for leaks. Your air conditioner could be overworking and pumping in unhealthy air. Repair leaks with mastic, not duct tape.
September: Caulk around windows and doors with caulk that's paintable. Be sure weep holes in storm windows are open to allow water to escape. Clogged weep holes can cause rotted sills.
October: Check gutters. Clogs can cause all sorts of water damage, from rotted fascia to moisture in the crawl space. Use hose to be sure downspouts are flowing freely.
November: Seal holes in foundation, especially spots around pipes and wires where rodents might enter.
December: Check windows and attic for condensation. Reduce water vapor by using bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans and limiting use of vent-free gas logs.
Get the biggest news in your email or cellphone as it's happening. Sign up for breaking news alerts.
Raleigh was very much part of the kit home craze, which peaked after World War I. Rosemary Thornton, author of “The Houses That Sears Built,” said Raleigh has more surviving kit homes per capita than about 75 percent of the cities she’s researched in the Southeast. 
Allen de Hart deeds his 91-acre botanical gardens to Louisburg College, the institution where he taught psychology and American history for 52 years. 
Gardeners can be a funny bunch of folks – many have landscape beds full of plants they can pronounce but they shy away from the tongue-twisters. Crocosmia is a good example. A hardy, reliable beauty, it is not typically found in backyard gardens. 
Our great room opens to the kitchen and has vaulted ceilings. It is 12-1/2 feet by 22 feet. We moved here about 6 months ago from a very cramped 1970s house with tons of walls and enclosed spaces so the open floor plan is throwing me for a loop. 
I have a question about keeping a gardenia in a planter, so I can take it with me when I move. 
It’s time to plant warm-season vegetables like zucchini, squash, peppers and more. 
If a landscape dazzling with color and packed with butterflies and hummingbirds is your goal, then you will want to give the Starla pentas a prominent spot in your garden. Pentas is a much-loved annual in most of the country. 
Congratulations to the winners of our latest book drawing. Read our feature stories on your time. We'll deliver our best work right to your inbox, for free!
Subscribe to Lifestyles - it's free!
Subscribe to Family & Community - it's free!
Subscribe to Food & Fitness - it's free!
Subscribe to Here's the Deal - it's free!
Subscribe to Home & Garden - it's free!
Subscribe to Travel Deals - it's free!
Subscribe to TriangleMom2Mom - it's free!
