Home ownership is arguably one of the biggest achievements in your lifetime. This feeling is incredible and worth the years of sacrifice and commitment especially for first time homeowners. Home maintenance is a dimension of homeownership that is oftentimes forgotten but whose impact is enormous.
As opposed to people who have had a prior experience owning a home, first timers may not be well versed with home maintenance and this raises the question – How should you go about it? In responding to this important question, I have compiled a list of useful house maintenance tips to get you off the ground and keep you going.
Contents
Clean the Kitchen Sink Disposal System
This is also a monthly task which you need to do to prevent blockage of the kitchen disposal system and eliminate foul smells. This is pretty easy because all you need to do is to pour in vinegar ice cubes through the sink disposal. This will clean the system perfectly. As a first time homeowner you may want a little bit of guidance in getting through this especially in the first year or so. A professional can quickly take you through this to ensure that you are doing it right.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System Filter Inspection
The HVAC system is useful whether you are in the sweltering heat of summer or under the freezing temperatures of winter. The filters usually get dirty or even worn out after some time. Inspecting them on a monthly basis can help you in detecting those that need repair or replacement. However, in case you do not want to get your hands dirty or you lack the time, you may consider hiring a professional to help you tune up the entire HVAC system.
Conduct a Test Run on Your Smoke Detectors
Proper functioning of smoke detectors is critical to your safety and that of your property. After every three months, check whether the system is working properly; it is as simple as pressing the test button. In case the alarm does not go off, you should check if the batteries are still powerful and the battery terminals for corrosion. The detector could also be faulty thereby in need of replacement.
Check Water Flows and Flushing System in Unused Spaces
If your house has extra spaces that are not normally used such as guest washrooms, chances of the water flow and toilet flushing system getting a buildup of grime are very high. You can easily prevent this by running water through the system once in every three months.
Deep Cleaning the House
Deep cleaning is a comprehensive exercise that should be undertaken at least twice a year. It involves cleaning of all spaces from the basement to every nook and cranny. Household appliances should not be spared either since the main aim is to remove any accumulated dirt, dust or grime and to keep the house in a tip-toe condition. Because of the extensive nature of this exercise, you may want to hire the services of professional spring cleaners.
Vacuum Refrigerator Coils
Research shows that dirty and dusty refrigerator coils can make the entire refrigeration system to consume well over 15 percent of the domestic power. To prevent this, you should vacuum the coils every 6 months which is not such a difficult task. Doing this will also make your refrigerator to last longer and lessen the frequencies of breakdowns and repairs.
Inspect and Fixing the Exteriors
The exteriors are as important as the interiors of the house. Check the external drainage system for loose gutter connections, bad spouts and accumulated dirt. You should also weed out any unwanted plants around the drainage pathway to prevent water flow interruptions. Where the pavement is low, you can have technicians come to raise it a little bit so that water does not settle there but rather drains away. The best time to do this is during spring before summer sets in.
Inspect the Plumbing System
The plumbing system including the faucets and aerators should be checked every summer for leakages and bursts. After fall, winter and spring, some components of the plumbing system may become loose or weak due to the temperature and pressure variations. Ensure that you fix this in good time before it gets worse.
These are some of the things that you should regularly check when assessing your home for repair and maintenance services.
Authors Bio:
Thomas is an accomplished blogger with a love for home improvement. He writes regularly for blogs and print media on topics such as tiling, interior décor, roofing and gardening. You can get in touch with him via http://thomasmbaru.weebly.com/.
