Any home repair of significance carries a considerable expense. That’s why preventative maintenance for the home is encouraged. Doing small things around the house on a regular basis can prevent major problems in the future. These are six home components that you’ll want to focus on and maintain to save you both big headaches and big money.
Contents
Roof
The roof keeps rain, wind, snow hail and more out of your home, all which can deteriorate the roof. The most important part of your roof is the waterproof membrane under the outer layer. When that’s exposed, holes develop and water leaks in, damaging ceilings, walls and floors. That gets very expensive very quickly. Be sure to do a quick inspection of your roof once or twice a year and get and repairs done immediately to prevent major damage. The best time do this is right before and after winter.
Furnace
Your furnace is the workhorse of your home from November through April. It needs periodic preventative maintenance. Filters are the first line of defense for a furnace. They’re cheap and easily replaced. They keep dirt and dust away from the moving parts. The service life of a furnace is about 15 years. Annual servicing by a certified technician will extend that life by years. You don’t want to be calling them for repairs in the middle of January when there’s no heat.
Drains
Drains are so ignored, so important, and expensive to fix. When they back up, the house stinks, and they can do considerable damage. Pour a combination of boiling water, baking soda and vinegar down them once a month. If you notice a problem is not improving, get help from a plumber before you find yourself with a leak, water damage and broken pipes.
Water heater
Water heaters will have a service life of about 10 years. If it pops, rattles and bangs, it’s time for a new unit. If there’s rust around it, that’s another sign that its ending its service life, and when the hot water only lasts a minute or two, it’s time to call the plumber to get it repaired or replaced.
Dryer vents
This is something that’s typically ignored, but constitutes a fire hazard. Dryer vents should be cleaned at least once a year. Lint that accumulates in the system not only makes your dryer work harder and increases energy costs, but it poses the serious risk of fire.
Air conditioner
For central air, hose the inside of the unit out thoroughly and remove any debris, then wrap it. You want a clean mechanical unit. Continued grime will burn the moving parts out. Be sure to change filters and get it looked at by a professional if you notice any problems. Trying to do major repairs on your air conditioner yourself can cost you more money in the end.
Preventative maintenance saves thousands over the years, and these steps keep your home in great condition and prevent expensive problems. Print a checklist or set a reminder on your calendar or phone to do updates around the home. Try to do a few small projects on the same day so you don’t feel like you are constantly working on the the home.
Informational credit to Advanced Plumbing.
