Buying a home is a huge milestone in someone’s life. But homeownership comes with tons of responsibilities. Apart from paying off your mortgage, you also need to make sure your house is well-maintained. Regularly maintaining your home keeps it in good shape and prevents unwanted repairs that can cost you a huge amount of cash. A well-maintained house can also have a greater value when you decide to sell it.
However, some first-time homeowners don’t know how to maintain their homes properly or have no idea where to start. If this is the case, you should prioritize the top three maintenance tasks to ensure everything is working properly and efficiently.
Maintain Your HVAC System
One of the most important components of a house is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It is responsible for keeping the temperature in your home at a comfortable level and maintaining the air quality indoors.
Regularly maintaining your heating and cooling system helps prevent any problems in the future, such as corrosion, leaks, and problems related to distributing hot or cold air. Plus, neglecting maintenance can make the unit inefficient. If your appliances are not working efficiently, they will consume more energy than normal, which can increase your electricity bill.
Create a checklist of maintenance tasks for your HVAC system and note how often you should do them. Replacing the air filter, for example, is ideal every 90 days. Lubricating your HVAC motor and replacing the fan belt that’s not working efficiently, meanwhile, should be done once a year.
Contact a furnace company to help you fix any issues in your heating and cooling system. Some maintenance tasks are not ideal for DIY and require professional help. Otherwise, you’re likely to make mistakes that can cost you more.
Keep Your Gutters Clean
Your home’s gutter system allows rainwater to flow off the roof away from the exterior of the home and its foundation. Cleaning the gutter regularly is an essential task because it can cause damage to your property.
Clogged or broken gutter systems can damage your roof as rainwater will start to collect on the bottom of the roof since it can’t flow down the channel. If the water stays in that area, it can create cracks on roof shingles. These cracks can cause leaks in the ceiling that can lead to more damage to your home’s interior.
Additionally, leaving your gutters unattended can create pest problems on your property. Sitting water can attract rodents and insects, including rats, termites, and mosquitoes. These pests will likely make their way to your home if you didn’t take action immediately.
Sitting water can also put your and your family’s health at risk. It can be a source of disease-causing bacteria, like Legionella pneumophila. This bacterium causes Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia.
Ensure Your Plumbing System Runs Smoothly
Almost every homeowner experiences a plumbing problem or two. The most common plumbing problems include slow draining sinks, dripping faucets, running or clogged toilets, and leaky pipes. Such problems can cause headaches and inconvenience.
You can prevent these issues from occurring by maintaining your plumbing system properly. Make sure to avoid doing things that can damage the system or hinder it from functioning correctly.
Flushing unnecessary things down the toilet, for example, can clog it badly. Items like cotton swabs, sanitary products, hair, plastic, and other products that are not your waste or toilet paper should not go down the toilet bowl. Don’t make it a trash can.
Another way to keep your plumbing system running smoothly is by regularly checking for signs of leakage. Water appliances, like water heaters and laundry machines, usually tend to have hidden leaks. These can cause damage to your walls and floorboards if left unattended. Make sure to fix leaking faucets and showerheads, as well, to avoid wasting water and preventing your water bill from increasing.
Regularly unclogging bathroom sinks, bath, and shower drains is also a great practice to maintain your plumbing system. Clogged drains slow down the flow, making the water back up and bubble up from the drain holes. You can use a plunger or a plumber’s snake to unclog the drains. In some cases, however, you may need professional help to fix the problem.
Homeownership is pride and joy. A home is also an important asset you need to maintain if you want to profit should you sell it in the future. Knowing how to maintain your house is a vital responsibility as a homeowner to keep your home in good shape over time.
