Keeping a home well-maintained is more important than most people realize, a few simple projects could help you avoid expensive repairs down the road. Preventative maintenance is also going to help you preserve the value of your home and extend the lifespan of many key systems and structures. So let’s talk about a few ways you can maintain your home.
Roof
As a general rule, you should plan on thoroughly inspecting your roof at least once a year. A simple visual inspection should allow you to find cracked shingles, bent flashing, pinholes, and other common problems. Finding a problem early will be a great help as it could prevent further, more expensive damage.
It is also a good idea to carefully inspect the outside of your roof and your home’s attic whenever there were high winds or a heavy storm. That type of weather can quickly weaken or damage your roof as well as the rest of your home. Just make sure that the weather is clear before you make your inspection.
Septic Tank
If you have a septic tank on your property, then there are some vital maintenance and care steps that you will need to take. These steps will help you avoid burst pipes and other issues. You will need to have a septic tank maintenance company inspect the tank and all of the nearby fixtures once every three to five years. Additionally, those tanks should be fully drained at least once every three to five years. However, that schedule depends on the size of your tank and how many people are in your home. The same company doing the inspection can drain the tank for you.
Plumbing
While we’re on the subject, this is a good time to check your plumbing. Water leakage is going to happen at some point. It’s better to get ahead of it. When checking your plumbing, you’ll want to look for water pools, scaling, and other hard water issues. Another thing to be on the lookout for is dripping faucets. A drop here and there will start to add up. So be proactive and look for leaks now.
You will want to look over your house every year for leaking and other issues. If you spot them, it may be a good idea to call a professional plumber. They can come into your house and fix your problems. They may even discover other problems that you would have never noticed.
Freezer
Freezers can lose efficiency over time. Ice can build up around the cooling elements, and that ice will make it harder to cool the rest of the freezer. Another thing to keep your fridge and freezer running smoothly is to check the seals. Any ice buildup or loose seals can cause a drop in efficiency and also an increase in power usage.
To keep your freezer running at its best, make sure that you defrost, drain, and clean it every year. While you may have to move some frozen things around, you will thank yourself later when the power bill is lower. This is also a good time to check the expiration dates of the items in your freezer.
Paint
While paint might not seem like anything more than a cosmetic component of your home, that material serves quite a few purposes. Paint improves the appearance of a home. Not only that, but it also acts as a layer of insulation and reduces your risk of structural damage from moisture and direct sunlight. For the average home, interior and exterior paint will need to be reapplied every five to ten years.
Electronics
Dust is constantly in the air. And when the air is moved around with a fan, or when the dust just settles, it can accumulate. Some dust may not be a big problem for most things. But electronics are very sensitive to dust. This is because dust is very insulating. This means that it will keep the heat in, possibly overheating your devices. When a device overheats, it slows itself down so that it doesn’t start a fire. Dust also can gum up the fans of your device, further causing overheating.
To prevent dust buildup and just to keep things spic and span, it is a good idea to clean your electronics every few months or so. Doing so will lengthen the lifespan of your devices. Not only that, but it can keep them running smoothly and quickly for years to come. Just be sure to power off whatever you are cleaning and do not use water. Water can absolutely destroy whatever you are working on, sometimes even when it’s off.
Water Heater
Water heater damage can bring your life to a grinding halt. Remember, that your water heater must be drained every six or seven months so that it continues to run efficiently. When you are draining the tank, you should keep an eye out for standing water, moisture damage, or any other signs of a leak. With regular maintenance, a high-quality water heater should last for at least 10 years.
Basic home maintenance can usually be carried out with nothing more than a set of basic tools, but major maintenance and repair projects should always be left to the professionals. That includes any project that involves your plumbing system, roof, loading bearing walls, or electrical system. But with some simple maintenance, you can keep your home in tip-top shape, increasing the value of your home significantly.
