5 Home Maintenance Tips You Should Never Forget

When you own a home, maintaining that house is key to extending its life and its value. Too many people don’t look for the little things that need fixing until they become bigger and more costly issues.

 

Instead of waiting, make a list of home maintenance items you will check regularly, and repair anything you notice immediately. Doing so will save you money and time in the long run. Plus, if you ever plan to sell or rent your property, maintaining the inside and outside of your home could change the time your property sits on the market.

 

Here are five important and easy home maintenance tips to put on your list that will keep your home running smoothly.

Wash Your Siding

Each spring and fall, wash your siding with a power washer but use low pressure because high pressure could cause damage. Power washing your siding will increase its curb appeal and make it last longer because if mold sets in, it can cause your siding to crumble.

 

While you wash your siding, note any damaged areas and have those replaced too. Damaged siding can let moisture into your insulation and cause damage there, so it’s best to have those areas replaced or patched by a professional.

Flush Your Water Heater

During regular use, your water heater accumulates minerals and debris, which can clog your system and shorten the lifespan of your water heater. Since replacing your water heater is expensive, drain your water heater once a year to flush the system of damaging elements.

 

You can do this yourself with a guide, or you can hire a professional plumber to do it for you. Flushing your water heater once a year will ensure that it runs longer and more efficiently.

Check Your Air Conditioning

There are a few things you can do to help your air conditioning unit run well and last longer in your home. Replacing your air conditioning can cost several thousand dollars, so it’s very important to keep it running its best. 

 

In the spring and fall every year, hire a professional to come into your home and provide HVAC services to your unit. They will make sure it’s running how it should, that there are no clogs, that it’s running efficiently, and take care of any maintenance issues for you. That way, you’ll extend the life of your A/C and have it cooling your home the way it should through warm weather.

Clean Your Gutters

If you have gutters, you know that they need to be clean to bring the water off of your roof and away from your house, but do you know why? Overflowing gutters allow water to sit at the edge of your roof and wick upward, causing water damage to the inside and outside of your roof.

 

To avoid a costly roof repair, clean your gutters as each season changes, and check for damaged pieces and leaks. Fixing minor damage and clearing debris four times a year will extend the life of your gutters and your roof.

Trim Your Trees

Growing trees in your yard is a wonderful way to create a shady environment, but if your tree’s branches grow too close to your home, scratches and falling branches can damage your house.

 

To prevent your trees from causing costly damage, hire a professional tree trimmer to trim the branches at least 10 feet away from your home.

An Ounce of Prevention

Planning out a year’s worth of home maintenance will keep you on track and ensure you keep your repair issues small. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s especially true regarding your home.