Believe me, been there, done that.

We all have things around the home that while we know they would work better if we had them serviced, well, they are working now and that's good enough for me.

A properly maintained appliance in your home can add years to its effective life, and all it takes in most cases is a phone call.

With our New Year's resolutions still fresh in our minds here are some things you absolutely need to have serviced this year…

- HVAC system. Get a service contract and have your air conditioner inspected by a pro this spring and your furnace inspected by a pro this fall. Your systems will run more efficiently, your filters will be changed, and you will save money on your home energy bills.

- Electrical system. Your electrical system will wear down over time. Get a whole house electrical inspection and make sure it includes your smoke and CO detectors.

- Garage door. What? My garage door? You bet. It's the largest moving piece of equipment in your home and you rely on it every single day. The once over will do it a world of good, and you can get it done for under $100.

- Septic tank. When's the last time you had your septic tank cleaned out? While it's not an every year job, it's something that you need to have done every 3 years. Think of it this way - when your a/c goes out you are hot, when your electrical goes out it's dark. What adjective best describes a bad septic situation? Exactly…

- Water heater. You know the average life span of a water heater in this area is 7 years. How old is yours again? Right. Have a professional come out and check it out. Make sure they check the T&P valve and that you have an expansion tank.

While they are there have them check your home's water pressure. High pressure is the evil villain to the inner workings of your faucets and commodes.

- Ducts. Your ducts work every day carrying the cool or warm air to the rooms in your house and return air and dirt back to your unit. Do yourself a favor a have them professionally cleaned.

A good, professional cleaning will have you breathing better and can possibly cut down on the amount of dusting you have to do around the house.

Extra good news - barring unforeseen circumstances you won't have to have them cleaned for another 5-7 years.

- Roof. How long has it been since you had a roofing pro inspect your roof? Most quality roofing companies offer a free roof analysis which will let you know the exact shape of your roof.

Plus, having a qualified roofer inspect your roof gives you the ability to tell the storm chaser roof guy "No thanks - I already have a personal roofing professional".

Sweet.