Regular home maintenance can save you thousands in extensive repair costs. To avoid severe damage to your property, you must carry out routine maintenance checks to prevent severe damage to your appliances or structural damage that could cost thousands. Unfortunately, forty-five percent of Americans don’t tend to maintenance issues immediately, often leading to more severe problems.
A seemingly insignificant leak could lead to severe water damage, dirty filters shorten the lifespan of your furnace and avoiding air conditioner servicing could destroy your AC system. Therefore, paying attention to the little things will prevent long-term damage and reduce your home maintenance costs.
Here are some essential tips to make home maintenance less of a chore.
Restore Power to Dead Electrical Outlets
Regularly check your power outlets and replace dead sockets. Hire a professional electrician to replace sockets and check for electrical faults in your home. A small problem could escalate and lead to expensive and complicated repairs.
Flush Your Drains
Flush your drains regularly with hot water and baking soda, or use a drain unclogging solution. Do this at least every two weeks to avoid severe blockages and to clean debris from your pipes.
Clean Exhaust Fans
Clean exhaust fans to prevent mould and mildew build-up. Exhaust fans remove foul smells and other debris from your home. If you don’t clean your exhaust fans at least once a year, it will lead to excessive mould growth and, eventually, irreparable damage.
AC Checks
Hire an HVAC contractor to carry out regular air conditioner servicing; they can identify potential problems and fix them before they escalate. Also, regular AC servicing will prevent excess dust build-up and prolong your AC system’s lifespan.
Regrout
Check your bathroom and kitchen regularly for mould or mildew build-up. Regularly regrout and replace old sealant with new, fresh sealant to prevent unsightly mould build-up.
Clean Gutters
Clean your gutters every six months. If your gutters are overflowing with debris, it could lead to severe water damage. If you can, clean your gutters every three months to make sure they are clean and free from dirt.
Flush Water Heater
Flush the water heater at least once a year, hire a professional plumber to do this for you. They will remove any excess minerals or debris from your water heater to keep it running efficiently and effectively.
Freshen Paint
Check for peeling paint and rising dampness; freshen up your walls with a fresh coat of paint. If you notice rising water, get a professional to diagnose and eliminate the problem. Then, use damp-proof paint on the damp areas.
Clean Carpets
Use an industrial carpet cleaning machine or hire a professional carpet cleaner to deep clean your carpets every three to four months.
Clean Mattresses
Regularly cleaning your mattress is vital. According to research by Ohio State University, between 100,000 and 10 million dust mites reside in your bed. Therefore, steam cleaning and airing your mattress is vital. You should be doing this at least once a month to reduce dust mites and germs.
Final Thoughts
Avoiding home maintenance will cost you dearly in the long run; therefore, if you want to save money and prevent costly repairs, pay attention to the little things and schedule routine cleaning and maintenance of your home.