A home purchase is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime. For this reason alone, it only makes sense to take care of this major investment to ensure that the home serves your purpose for a very long time. Home ownership goes beyond the financial transaction. Maintenance is an integral part of the process. Therefore, it is very critical to understand all about the importance of home maintenance.
So, what is home maintenance you may ask?
As a new or experienced homeowner, you know that the phrase If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it does not apply to home maintenance. If anything, home maintenance involves all activities that ensures the home needs are met on a regular (monthly, seasonal or yearly) basis and are promptly taken care of with the right maintenance care. The benefits of home maintenance include saving money on future home repair expenses, the home runs a bit more efficiently, and the value of the home increases.
If you don’t have a home inspection report or own a proper home maintenance plan or even a seasonal home maintenance checklist, now is the perfect time to start one. At the very least, your home maintenance plan should include these 4 crucial home maintenance tips.
Clean out Gutters, Downspouts and Drains
A regular clean out of your gutters, downspouts, and drains should be at the top of your priority list. The function of these three components is to direct water away from the home. Gutters, downspouts and drains can be blocked with leaves or debris. As a result, drains cannot function as intended and water will end up in unwanted areas. This, in turn, could cause severe water damage to both the interior and exterior of the home. For example, water can overflow from gutters and end up in the home’s foundation. Water seepage into the foundation can lead to many costly issues
that include: mold and structural damage. Clogged gutters can also serve as homes to rodents, birds, and insects. Moreover, it is recommended to clean out your gutters every fall and spring to help alleviate the risk of this headache.
Change HVAC Filters Regularly
Another home maintenance task you should complete on a regular basis is to change your HVAC filters. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends regular maintenance of your air conditioning systems to increase efficiency and improve upon performance.
Dirt and debris in your HVAC filter can block out proper air flow and increase the workload of your cooling system. Replacing/changing your filter regularly (at least a minimum of every three months) can help reduce the
chances of breakdowns and allow for the free movement of air quality and a comfortable indoor space.
Test Your Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Regularly
Routine testing your smoke and carbon monoxide sectors regularly can literally save your life! Many studies have shown that working smoke detectors can reduce the chance of you and/or your family dying in a house fire by 55%.
Smoke detectors have been around since the 1970s and carbon monoxide detectors have been around since 1993.
Carbon monoxide detectors protect people from carbon monoxide (CO) — a poisonous gas that’s colorless, odorless, and deadly. The gas is created by the incomplete burning of coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas fuels.
Though smoke and CO detectors require very little maintenance, it is a good practice to change the batteries at least twice a year during daylight savings time. Experts recommend that you replace smoke and CO detectors after ten years even if they seem to be working. Fire experts also recommend that you test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing on the test button on the alarm. Having said that, make sure to always refer to the instruction manual for both your smoke and CO detector to know when to replace or test them.
Trim Back Trees and Shrubs Around the Home
Home maintenance extends to the exterior of your home. If you have trees and shrubs around your home, it is important to keep them in good condition with yearly tree trimmings.
The best time to trim the trees and shrubs is in the late winter or early spring. This can help to enhance new growth for the trees/shrubs during the warmer seasons. Keeping
your trees and shrubs well-trimmed can also help protect your home during bad weather months and prevent structural damage from occurring to your home.
Regular trimmings can also strengthen the root of the tree, all while promoting better tree health and growth. Maintaining the density of the tree can also help with reducing the amount of pests and insects that live in the tree/shrub.
So homeowners — which one of these home maintenance tasks are you adding to your checklist? Do you already have a head start on any of these tasks? Let Snead Home Inspection help you today, we’d love to hear from you!
