8 Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Not Neglect
One of the primary responsibilities you can’t afford to ignore as a homeowner is to handle routine home maintenance.
Simple minor repairs can quickly escalate to costly replacements if you don’t keep your eyes on the areas that matter most.
Let’s check out some home maintenance tasks and projects you should never neglect.
Inspect the Roof, Gutters, and Attic
Despite the roof’s integral role of serving as a protective shield, most homeowners don’t give it the attention it deserves until they spot a problem.
Use binoculars to inspect your roof for signs of damage, like cracks, leaks, curled, damaged, or missing shingles.
Check if the flashing is displaced, nails are popping up, and the roof is sagging or lifting. A professional from the first choice roofing company can help you perform thorough roof inspections to identify and fix possible issues.
Examine your gutters for clogging and clear any debris and leaves you can spot. Clogged gutters can be a recipe for water damage to your house’ eaves. Consider installing gutter screen guards to prevent debris accumulation.
Remember to check your attic to identify signs of insulation issues, water infiltration, and pest infestation. Address roof problems promptly to avoid mold growth and costly water damage.
Pay Attention to Your Doors and Windows
Doors and windows with deteriorated seals and caulk near the edges can permit water and air to penetrate, leading to energy loss, drafts, and higher utility bills.
Check your exterior door frames for warping and damaged seals and repair or replace them where necessary. Also, ensure the door’s sweep at the bottom edges is in good condition.
When it comes to windows, use a putty knife to remove cracked, gapping caulk and apply a fresh new caulk. Consider insulating your windows to prevent air leaks and improve energy efficiency.
Service Your HVAC System
Don’t wait for your cooling and heating system to break down during the coldest winter night or the hottest summer day so you can take the necessary steps.
Call an HVAC system professional to inspect and service your system at least twice a year to maintain its peak performance.
Most importantly, replace your HVAC air filters quarterly or more often, depending on how you use your HVAC system. Also, gently spray water to rinse off dust from your air conditioner’s condenser fins. Be gentle on the fins, as they are usually delicate.
This will help enhance your home’s air quality and energy efficiency, promote better temperature regulation, minimize costly repairs, and lengthen the system’s life.
Clean Faucet Heads
Mineral scale can accumulate in your faucets over time, hindering smooth water flow. When clearing the buildup from your faucet heads, take out their screens to soak in a cup of white vinegar for about an hour. Rinse and reinstall as required.
Dampen a cloth with vinegar and place it on your showerhead’s spray openings. Then, dampen another larger cloth and put it on the showerhead.
Tightly tie the vinegar cloth in position and let it rest for an hour. Remove the cloth and allow the shower to run briefly to flush.
Always take caution to ensure vinegar doesn’t come into contact with the metallic finish of your showerheads and faucets for an extended time, as it can damage the metal’s luster.
Test the Sump Pump
The sump pump is your first line of defense against the expensive and extensive household water damage resulting from basement flooding.
Routinely inspect your sump pump to ensure it operates efficiently to keep your home in top shape.
Sometimes, a tangled cable attached to the float can make you spend hours clearing the waterlogged basement, and perhaps you could have only spent two seconds untangling it if you noticed in time.
Ensure your pump features a vertical float switch and inspect it regularly to ensure it is functioning well.
Watch for Foundation Cracks
It is essential to check your home’s foundation seasonally for cracks. While it may be normal for houses to have hairline cracks caused by settling, cracks wider than 3/16 an inch could indicate a more intense and expensive problem.
If you notice some minor foundation cracks in your home, consult a structural engineer or professional foundation specialist to mitigate the problem before it gets out of hand.
Check Plumbing for Leaks
It is easy to overlook a dripping faucet or a running toilet, but these can cause you to lose gallons of water in a year.
Check all your plumbing fixtures, water supply lines, and pipes for signs of corrosion and leaks.
Address small leaks promptly to conserve water while inhibiting mold growth and water damage. Remember to inspect under your sinks routinely, as you could have bumped a plumbing line when storing things down there, leading to leaks.
Put Safety First
A report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows that nearly three out of five residential fire deaths result from fires in homes with no or failed smoke alarms.
Ensure you regularly check and change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. Test the alarms every month to keep them working properly.
These home maintenance tasks cannot be ignored, as you will be putting your family’s safety in danger. Develop a checklist and determine how often you will perform routine inspections and maintenance to keep your home in perfect shape.
