Want a little excitement in your life? How about a rainstorm pouring into the attic because of an unpatched hole in the roof... smoke filling the house becaue the chimney isn’t drawing... an air conditioner conking out mid-heat wave because you haven’t done the maintenance. The alternative is spending a little time on the boring tasks of home maintenance. Here’s a list of what you should do and when to do it, perfect for printing out and hanging on the fridge.

EVERY SPRING
Heating: The boiler of your gas or oil furnace ought to be inspected annually -- either in the early fall or the late spring. The expert you call in should do a carbon dioxide test, a draft test (to make sure you aren’t losing too much heat up the chimney) and a smoke test (to see if your fuel is burning cleanly.)

Well water: Check the water quality (if you have well water). Call your local public health office if you don’t know how to do this.

Yard: In addition to the gardening chores, there are other spring tasks. Oil snow-removal equipment before putting it away. Clean and spruce up the patio furniture and the play equipment.