Maintaining a home is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance. Even though carrying out preventative projects might seem like a hassle, they can end up saving you thousands of dollars and prevent a major disaster that potentially puts your family in danger.
Here are a few tips you can use to avoid some of the most common mishaps that will bring your daily life to a grinding halt.
Create a Maintenance Checklist
Just because you have an excellent memory doesn’t mean you are going to remember every single project you carry out on your home. Over the course of a single year, you might need to remember hundreds of different tasks ranging from changing batteries to testing your water, and you can drastically reduce your risk of forgetting those things by creating a maintenance checklist.
Your home checklist should include information such as the last time you tested your radon detector and when you replaced your HVAC air filters.
Invest in High-Quality Alarms and Detectors
Modern fire alarms and radon detectors have many new features that manufacturers never even considered until a few years ago. While these devices generally last for over a decade, you might want to consider upgrading them if they are more than a few years old.
Newer models can even save you money by using less electricity. You can invest in detectors and alarms that will connect with your wireless network and send you regular updates when the emergency batteries need to be changed or any dangerous contaminants are detected in your home.
Learn the Basics of Your Electrical System
The vast majority of homeowners don’t have the tools or skills to work on a residential electrical system, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t know the basics of this technology. All adult residents living in your home need to know where the breaker boxes are and how they can turn the system back on if it has been tripped.
Homeowners should also inspect all of their visible wires, outlets, and light fixtures a few times a year for any signs of damage.
Service Your HVAC System Twice a Year
Your heating and cooling systems are most likely the two biggest energy consumers in your home, and even a minor issue can become expensive if you don’t catch it early. You should be able to carry out some basic maintenance tasks such as changing filters and cleaning off the condenser. When it comes to more comprehensive projects, however, most homeowners will need to contact an experienced HVAC technician. During a service call, the contractor can inspect all of the primary components for signs of damage, check the fluid levels, and test the accuracy of your thermostat.
Don’t Neglect Your Yard(s)
Allowing your front and/or backyard to fall into disrepair can have a major impact on the value of your property and eventually cause irreversible damage to the soil. Once a year, homeowners need to clear away dead foliage, trim the grass, seed the lawns, add fertilizer, and inspect the property for pests.
You should also go over every inch of your yard to look for any signs of a water leak. A broken water main or sprinkler can waste thousands of gallons of water within just a few months. You may have to contact a plumber to assess your situation and advise you on your options.
What starts off as a minor headache can easily become a major home catastrophe if you don’t catch it early. In addition to carrying out these few preventative steps, homeowners might also want to consider hiring an experienced inspector to go over every inch of their property once every few years to look for common maintenance issues.
This guest post is written by Anica Oaks, a professional content and copywriter from San Francisco, California. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.
