Home Projects for Winter / by Lee McKnight

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For Conservation: Check Toilet for Leaks
The City of Portland has got you covered here with their handy tutorial for identifying a quietly leaking toilet. If you find out that yours is leaking, learn about what to do next here.

For Safety: Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Winter is high season for house fires. This is the season of the hearth whether that's a fireplace, candles or just your furnace. Spending more time at home means heavier use of appliances and electronics too. All of this adds up to greater risk making it more important than ever for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to be in good working order. Follow instructions on your devices to test and, if you don't have any, now is the time to install them!

For Fun: Map Out Your Garden
Spring is coming! Maybe you've noticed crocuses pushing up through chilled soil or buds at the tips of all of the bare branches? Planning a garden or dreaming about what you'll plant in the pots that flank your front door is a great way to remind yourself that there are more colorful days ahead. There are many wonderful garden shops and in Portland and regional seed companies (Adaptive, Uprising and Siskiyou to name a few) that can help you get started.