Home Maintenance Tasks You Can’t Forget

Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities. Obviously, it is important to pay your mortgage and property taxes, but there is more to it than that. Maintenance is another significant responsibility for homeowners. Many new homeowners are surprised when they find out how much work goes into maintaining a house. At times, home maintenance can feel like a second full-time job in its own right.

As much as it might be a lot of work, home maintenance is essential, and you don’t want to let your home deteriorate. You’ve invested a lot of money in buying a home, and it only makes sense to protect that investment. What are some of the most important home maintenance tasks you can’t forget? Read on to find out!

Cleaning Your Gutters

So many homeowners neglect to maintain and clean their gutters. What they fail to consider is how much functional gutters protect the home. Water can damage the roof, home exterior, and foundation if your gutters are not doing their job. That’s why you should inspect and clean your gutters at least once a year.

Depending on how tall your house is, you might want to consider hiring professionals for gutter cleaning. If you don’t have a tall enough ladder or feel uncomfortable with heights, it is probably better to leave this job to the professionals.

Testing Smoke Alarms and CO Detectors

Smoke alarms and CO detectors might be the most important safety devices in the home. You should test the alarms every month and check the batteries seasonally. These devices will also need to be changed out eventually. Most smoke alarms will last about ten years before needing to be replaced. For CO detectors, it is about 5-7 years.

Service Your HVAC System

The home HVAC system is another thing that needs regular servicing. To start, you should check the furnace filter monthly. If it is dirty, change or clean it. Cleaning and inspection of the air conditioner are also important. According to a specialist from Fixd Repair (https://www.fixdrepair.com/tx/carrollton-ac-repair), “A home air conditioner should be serviced at least once a year. The service technician will come to check the lines for leaks and clean the unit. This ensures efficiency and protects against unnecessary wear on the parts. It can also ensure any issues are addressed before the system breaks down during the hottest times of the year.”

Look for Air Leaks

Leaks around windows and doors can make your home heating and cooling inefficient. This will cost you higher utility bills and force the systems to work harder. Homeowners should take the time to inspect the seals around windows and doors once a year. If there are leaks, you can caulk around the door or window to reseal them.

Clean Your Dryer Vent

Many homeowners don’t think about the vent on their dryers. It is something you rarely see. However, if it is clogged, it can make your dryer inefficient and require more time to dry your laundry. Along with that, it can also be a fire hazard. Most experts recommend cleaning the vent annually.

To clean your dryer vent, you’ll need to pull the unit away from the wall and disconnect the flexible vent. From there, you can reach in to remove the accumulation of lint. There are also special long brushes you can use to clean out the vent. Some people also use tools like leaf blowers and shop vacs to clean the vents.

Inspect Your Roof

Roof inspections are another part of maintaining a home. An annual inspection gives you a chance to catch problems early. By catching issues early, you can prevent small problems from turning into major repairs. Inspect your ceilings and attic for signs of leaks. Look at the flashing around chimneys and vents to find damage. Inspect for missing or broken shingles.

Check the Home Plumbing

Homeowners should try to stay ahead of plumbing problems. Water damage can be costly, and there are few things that can be worse than damaged or clogged drains. However, if you give your home plumbing system an inspection once a year, you can usually stay ahead of most problems.

Start by testing all the drains. First, flush your toilet and see how it flushes. Next, run water in all the sinks and showers to see if the drains are slow. Finally, look around toilets, tubs, and sinks to see if there are any leaks. If you catch these issues early, you can prevent further damage or the need for emergency repairs.

Maintaining a home isn’t one job – it is a bunch of jobs all rolled together. Some of these jobs might require skills or equipment you don’t have. If you can’t do something, don’t hesitate to contact professionals. Professional service can ensure the work is done right. It can also protect you from accidents that may occur.