May

ESFI says GFCIs should be tested every month and that the National Electrical Code requires them in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, crawl spaces and outdoors. Press TEST, confirm the power cuts, press RESET. For AFCI breakers, ESFI's monthly test is the breaker's own TEST button with the power on; if it does not trip, call a licensed electrician to replace it. Before you plug in the mower, the pump or the string trimmer, check that outdoor outlets are GFCI-protected and that the extension cords are rated for outdoor use. Read how a GFCI trips.

NADRA promotes May as Deck Safety Month and recommends a thorough professional inspection for occupant safety. The points an inspector looks at: the ledger board where the deck meets the house, the fasteners, the railings, the stairs and the posts. A deck that wobbles at the railing, has rusted or missing fasteners, or shows rot where the ledger meets the siding is one to keep people off until a contractor has seen it.

NOAA's Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30; the eastern Pacific season starts May 15. NOAA's pre-season list: trim trees, install storm shutters or impact glass, seal outside wall openings, keep plywood or panels on hand, call your insurer for a coverage check-up, document your belongings, and stock at least 3 days of food, water and medicine. If you own a generator, CPSC's rule is outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents.

CAL FIRE's zones: Zone 0 is the first 5 feet from any building or deck, kept ember-resistant; Zone 1 runs to 30 feet; Zone 2 from 30 to 100 feet or the property line. Remove dead leaves and pine needles from the yard, roof and gutters. NFPA's home ignition zones use the same distances (immediate 0 to 5 feet, intermediate 5 to 30 feet, extended 30 to 100 feet) and keep roofs and gutters free of debris and leaves so embers cannot ignite them.

DOE: in summer, run the ceiling fan counterclockwise. The moving air lets you raise the air conditioner's thermostat about 4 F with no loss of comfort. Fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.

Humid air makes wood take on moisture and swell; dry air makes it shrink, which is why doors that closed fine in February start rubbing in May. Hinges loosening is the other common cause. Tighten the hinge screws one at a time and check the door as you go; replace stripped screws with longer 3-inch wood screws that bite into the framing behind the jamb; if the latch does not catch, tighten the strike plate screws the same way. Trim the door only when that fails, and seal every cut edge. Read how a door hangs and why it sticks.