Why home maintenance is important
Owning a home is a dream that many of us work very hard to fulfill. Most of us are not prepared for, and can sometimes be overwhelmed by home maintenance. However, if planned correctly, home maintenance can be a rewarding experience.
Ownership takes work to retain value, safety and comfort. Home maintenance should be thought of like the maintenance of your car. To keep it performing at its best, it should be done on time, correctly and by someone who knows what they’re doing.
You might not be an expert at some or any of these. But this is a guide to give you an idea of what’s required and to get you started. The secret to lower out of pocket expenses and lowering the number of unplanned breakdowns is a good preventative regime. In the long run preventative home maintenance is much cheaper than reactive maintenance. Also, reactive because of its nature, is almost always at a time that is inconvenient.
Not to mention warranties are void if the equipment has not been maintained to the standard laid out within the owner’s manual. Your home insurance plan would likely stipulate the same rules regarding an adequate home maintenance regime.
Now onto the good stuff – We’ve pulled together a list of preventative maintenance tasks to help you stay on top of things and ensure your home is running as it should. In the long term, this will extend the life of your home, lower your upkeep costs and keep your home comfortable and habitable.
Monthly home maintenance checklist
Water heater – check pressure and temperature valves are working and pressure in line with owner’s manual guidance. A local plumber can do a more thorough inspection from time to time and fix more complex issues.
Water filters – clean and was these accordingly. These like air filters vary depending on device model. A qualified plumber can assist in inspecting or replacing filters as needed.
Drains – inspect, unclog and clean as required. Checking for pests (animal or plant) to ensure no blockages. A pest control professional can be called to assist if you do spot an issue.
Garbage disposal – pass ice cubes through to clean blades. You can also mix in small amounts of vinegar to help with cleansing.
Air filters – clean reusable filters as directed by supplier and replace non-usable filters. Life expectancy of these air filters varies, so be sure to check what the frequency ought to be for your filter/device. Clean filter means more efficient devices and a healthier home.
Appliances – inspect and clean as required home appliances. Replacing damaged parts as appropriate
Range – clean range top and burners
Laminate surfaces – deep clean surfaces using appropriate tools and chemicals
Tiles – inspect and clean grouting
Fire extinguisher – inspect pressure gauge to ensure reading is in line with manufacturer requirements. Inspect nozzle is not blocked at tip.
Smoke detectors – test using push button, and replace batteries if device is not operating. The entire device is usually changed out every 5 years.
Carbon monoxide detectors – test using push button, and replace batteries if device is not operating. The entire device is usually changed out every 5 years.
Garage door – test auto-reverse safety feature is working as intended.
Electrical wiring – its always advised to get a licensed electrician to perform inspection on electrical wiring. For the obvious reason of safety, but also to ensure important issues are not missed and are caught by a trained person. Always hire a qualified electrician to perform electrical work.
Exterior and Interior walk through – its good practice to do a walk around of the exterior and interior of your home. Keeping an eye for anything that looks out of the ordinary. Such as, exposed wiring, cracked wall, water pooling where it shouldn’t be, etc. This will help you spot problem before they become major and costly.
Annual home maintenance checklist
Annual home maintenance tasks have been split by season to be more effective. Spring home maintenance checklist
Annual air conditioner (A/C) maintenance – a HVAC specialist should be called to perform the annual maintenance of you air conditioning system. Servicing means better performance and small problems can be captured before they become major.
Refrigerator maintenance – a HVAC specialist performing the above task can also take care of this. It includes cleaning of the condenser coils which collect dust and dirt. This task should be performed every season or quarterly if you have pets or allergies.
Attic inspection – you want to look out for pests, leaks, rot and fungus. The insulation should also be inspected for any abnormalities.
Landscaping – clear dead plants and trees and check trees and bushes have not grown to interfere with electrical wiring nor plumbing and pipes. You may also get a landscaper to work on areas where a professional is required.
Summer home maintenance checklist
Heating system – during summer months its best to inspect and test your heating system. As winter approaches, you would have had time to fix any issues ahead of time and save money by planning in advance. Follow the owner’s manual as each system differs.
Plumbing systems – inspection plumbing systems including faucets, shower heads and toilet flush for leaks. Check water pressure in plumbing systems across the house. For any major plumbing problems hire a professional to avoid further damage. Fixing plumbing issues in the summer is better than frozen or burst piping in the winter.
Electrical systems – a simple check is turning off and on circuits. A qualified electrician should be the only person to perform further intrusive testing.
Pest control – check interior and exterior of your home for pests (animal or plant). A pest control specialist can provide you with varying solutions should the need arise.
Autumn/Fall home maintenance checklist
Weather proofing – inspect the interior and exterior of your home to ensure weather proofing is intact. This includes the caulking, the finishes and seals around windows and doors. Most of these can be repaired with some DIY work, or you can hire a handyman to assist with the task.
Winter preparation – now is a good time to ensure you have sidewalk salt, snow snow shovels, etc. It’s also a good idea to flush out outdoor water faucets to avoid bust pipes.
Chimney – clean out chimneys.
Gutters and roofing – clean out gutters and check roof for cracks and get them sealed.
Winter home maintenance checklist
Icicles – remove icicles from gutters and drainage systems to avoid breakages.
Snow – maintain good level of snow removal to avoid large build up. Always take precautions and follow best practices when shoveling snow.
Basement – during winter is the best time to inspect interior of your home and the much-needed attention can now be focused on the basement’s needs.
Plumbing – keep an eye out on your interior and exterior plumbing to avoid leaks and burst pipes.
Great list! what now?
Not all the above items might apply for your home. But it’s certainly great to know about them, you can remove the items that do apply and pull together a checklist that’s tailored to your home. Also. you can always refer to this post for the details on the specific tasks. Remember that you are in it for the long run and good preventative maintenance is always cheaper and more convenient than reactive maintenance.
Submitted September 27, 2017 at 12:21AM by efemex_com http://ift.tt/2xvkJV2 HomeImprovement
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