Can you believe it? We're already a month into 2026! While you've probably been busy tackling resolutions for yourself, have you taken a moment to ensure your home is set up for a successful, healthy, and safe year ahead? At Joe Filter, your trusted Arizona home service company, we believe a little proactive maintenance goes a long way. Let's dive into some key areas to check off your list right now!

Life is busy. Between work, family, and everything else, who has time to remember all those little home maintenance tasks? Changing air filters, cleaning dryer vents, topping off water softener salt, replacing fridge filters, swapping out RO filters, and checking smoke detector batteries – even listing it all feels exhausting!

Your dryer vent is an essential part of your home, whisking away hot moist air and lint from your laundry. But, did you know it can also be an inviting entryway for a variety of unwelcome guests? From tiny bugs to larger rodents, birds, and even snakes, your dryer vent can become a cozy, protected, and often unnoticed home for pests. This not only creates a health and sanitation hazard, but can also pose a serious fire risk due to lint buildup and obstructed airflow.

In the sweltering heat of Arizona, a glass of water isn't just a drink—it's a lifeline. But have you ever stopped to wonder what's really in the water flowing from your tap? While our municipal water is safe, it comes with a few local quirks that can make a reverse osmosis (RO) system feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It's a standard measurement that indicates how effectively an air filter captures airborne particles. There are other proprietary rating systems out there as well, but they can be translated to MERV. The MERV scale typically ranges from 1 to 13 + for residential filters, and the higher the number, the more particles the filter can trap.

During peak Arizona heat, the combination of high ambient temperatures and the heat generated by your dryer can create a dangerous situation. A clogged dryer vent is a fire hazard year-round, but in the summer, that risk is amplified.

Many homeowners enjoy the convenience and peace of mind that comes with having a reverse osmosis (RO) system. Which provides homes with clean, great-tasting water right from the tap. But like any appliance, an RO system doesn't last forever. If your system is 10 years old or older, it's time to consider a replacement. You might think, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," but with RO systems, the risks of waiting can outweigh the benefits.

According to the EPA, most homeowners don't realize air quality in their homes can be worse than outside. Fortunately achieving better indoor air isn't all that hard. It just takes a few simple, summer-friendly habits. And trust us, your lungs (and your whole family) will thank you for it!

We all want the best for our furry (feathered, or scaley!) family members. We provide nutritious food, plenty of cuddles, and stimulating toys. But have you ever considered how your home's "health" impacts your pet's well-being? Just like us, pets are susceptible to environmental factors. By investing in some healthy home services, you can create a safer, more comfortable, and truly pet-friendly haven.

We often obsess over cleaning the parts of our home we can see daily, dusting our shelves and scrubbing our counters, vacuuming the carpets, etc. But what about those unseen pathways that keep us breathing easy? Let’s face it, out of sight, out of mind is a tempting philosophy… until your allergies start acting up or you’re constantly dusting!