Time and time again, we are told not to take home maintenance and repairs too lightly. This could mean a big difference between your family’s health and safety. But merely tackling the obvious repairs is never enough. With timely maintenance, we can catch issues that are slowly brewing and avoid an even bigger home repair project. You can save yourself from the costly financial consequences in the future since your home systems will last longer and your appliances will stay efficient.
The kind of home maintenance tasks you will invest in will help you achieve different goals. But before you start shedding money, let’s take a look at the numerous maintenance projects often overlooked by homeowners.
Vent and Duct Cleaning
Did you know that according to the U.S. Fire Administration, about 2,900 clothes dryer catch fire each year? The usual reason for this is the failure to clean their home clothes dryer regularly.
The same goes for leaving your air ducts dusty. Clean air won’t circulate around the house if you keep them clogged. Failure to clean this area can trigger allergy-ike symptoms.
Make sure you invest in regular air duct cleaning. Stay on top of your dryer vent cleaning and maintain your family’s health and wellness. You can avoid fire hazards, ensure the comfort of your family, and protect your home maintenance expenses from blowing up.
Roof and Gutter Inspection
Your home’s roof is your main protection against numerous elements. After a heavy rain, the winter season, and during fall, we often forget to check on our roof and gutter. If you wait for a roof problem or a gutter issue before you check on these areas, there is a huge chance that you are already nursing a huge problem.
Over the years, your roof can take a beating and will need your investment. The kind of roof you have installed will give you an idea of how often you will need a roofer to check on it. If there is a missing shingle, or you found part of your roof now has holes in it, make sure to address the issue asap.
The same goes for your gutters. These require regular cleaning as dirt, debris, leaves, and other items and clog your gutters. Failure to do so can lead to flooding up and cause water to seep into your home.
Maintain Your Water Heater
Your water heater helps ensure you can enjoy those warm baths or hot showers just when you need them. But no matter how often we use this, we often forget to maintain it. It is only when our water heater is not working do we only call a plumber to fix the issue asap.
For first-time homeowners, it is important that you also do certain water heater maintenance on your own. This includes draining the sediment from the heater at least once a year. Failure to do so will lead the sediments to collect on the bottom, thus damaging the tank in the long run.
So, make sure you do your part by draining your water heater occasionally. This helps extend the water heater’s life and save yourself a couple of energy bills each year. It is also important that you watch out for signs of gas leak around your water heater or it might catch fire.
Foundation Inspection
One of the things that often tops the most expensive list of home repairs is home foundation issues. The average cost of a foundation repair is between $2,000 and $7,000. If you don’t want to pay such a high price prematurely, then don’t take home foundation inspections for granted.
The good news is, there are many things that can help you spot a foundation problem. Here are some things to watch out for.
-
Warped floors or sagging ceilings
When your foundation moves, the walls and support beams can pull apart. The shift can move the weight of the house and cause a slanted floor or a saggy ceiling. If you find that one part of your home continues to move in a certain direction, then it is best to call a professional asap.
-
Mold or mildew in the basement
Molds and mildew may seem like a small issue. But these unwelcomed growths can reduce indoor air quality, cause a lingering unpleasant smell and even invite decay fungi that can damage your wooden structures. If you suspect mold or mildew growth, better call a mold remediation specialist.
-
Walls or floor cracks
Did you find any leaking water from a crack in the wall? Is there a crack in your floor that is more than a one-quarter inch? Or maybe there is a diagonal crack that’s been bugging you? This could mean a foundation problem is waving and you need an expert to fix it the soonest time possible.
Neglecting home maintenance can cost you thousands of dollars’ worth of repair. If you are a homeowner, this is the last thing you want to splurge on. Staying on top of your home upkeep will help keep your home a healthier and safer living space for you and your family.
