Keeping up with regular home maintenance can prevent costly repairs. For example, regularly cleaning gutters ensures that water is diverted away from your home’s foundation and roofing system. Inspecting siding every few years can catch any wood rot or other damage before it becomes a major problem. Other things such as caulking around windows and doors, replacing weather stripping, and inspecting your roof for potential problems can help you stay ahead of potential costly repairs and damage.
It’s also important to inspect and conduct maintenance on outdoor equipment such as lawnmowers, garden tools, and power washers. Keeping blades sharpened and oiled can extend their life considerably while also preventing future repairs that may be necessary if they are allowed to become too worn down or damaged.
We’ve put together a list of regular maintenance steps to keep your home in great shape longer.
Inspect the coils, filters, and basic structure of your air conditioning system so that you are aware of any internal damage and wear over time.
- Test your sump pump
- Inspect your furnace
- Check your air conditioner
- Clean refrigerator coils
- Drain sediment out of your water heater
- Check for pest infestations
- Clean gutters
- Test smoke alarms
- Check windows and doors
Sump pump
The sump pump is something you might not realize even exists. If you do, so what do you actually do? Simple. All you need to do is unplug your pump and drain out any water. Clean any debris that might block the sump pump. Plug it back in and pour 5 gallons of water into the sump to check the float. If it turns the pump on, then you are fine. If not, call a professional. It’s also a good idea to have a professional check the sump pump annually.
Furnace
Clean your furnace filters every year before the first time you turn your furnace on. Keep the cover off the furnace. Turn your heater on at the thermostat. Look at the flame. They should be blue and have an even flame. If the flame is yellow, then it’s burning dirty. If you see this, call a professional. Don’t try to fix this yourself. Every few years, you need to have a professional come in to vacuum the burner and blowers.
Air conditioners
It’s very important to clean those air filters to keep your air conditioner running well. Air filters should be changed every 3 months to ensure that the air in your home stays fresh and clean. Dirty air filters can lead to allergies, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Before doing anything, you’ll need to make sure the power is off on the breaker to the unit. The condenser and evaporator coils get dirty. That slows the airflow and causes several problems. Be sure to check the outdoor coils as well. This is important for home maintenance but also helps the air quality within your home. Don’t forget to clean the fan blades.
Refrigerator
Besides cleaning the inside, you need to also clean the back of your unit. If it’s too big to move by yourself, call a professional. They will clean the coils out and cleanse the stuck debris and check the temperature gauge for best performance.
Water heater
The water heater is often overlooked and forgotten. For best maintenance, hire professionals to drain and clean out the water tank of any gunk build ups and sediment. Don’t forget to clean the valve too.
Check for pest infestations
It’s important to keep an eye out for signs of pests in your home such as mice, rats, ants, or roaches. If left unchecked, these pests can spread diseases, cause structural damage to the home and even be hazardous to your health. Regularly inspecting for signs of pests is a small but vital part of home maintenance.
Clean gutters
Clogged gutters can cause water to build up around your foundation, leading to eventual damage. Make sure you are regularly cleaning out your gutters and checking for any signs of wear or damage that may need repair.
Test smoke alarms
It’s important to test your smoke alarms regularly to make sure they are in good working order. You should also replace the batteries twice a year and check them once a month for dust accumulation that could block it from sensing smoke.
Check windows and doors
If you have old or drafty windows and doors, you’re most likely wasting energy. Inspecting these areas for any signs of wear or tear is an important part of home maintenance, as it can help improve energy efficiency in the entire house.
Regular home inspections and maintenance just takes a few minutes every month, but it can help prevent costly repairs down the road and save you money in the long term.
It’s always a good idea to inspect your appliances and make sure they are working properly, as well as checking for any signs of wear or damage. This includes inspecting air conditioners and heating systems, checking the seals around doors and windows, testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and making sure that all plumbing fixtures are in good condition. Regularly cleaning filters on your dishwasher, refrigerator, stovetop, bath fans, dryer vent, etc can reduce energy costs while also maintaining peak performance.
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