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Your home can often be your most significant investment ever, therefore, taking good care of such an asset is essential, and a regular maintenance program is essential in helping your property retain its value.
In addition to pursuing consistent maintenance as a prerequisite for keeping its value, taking this approach helps ensure your home remains a comfortable and safe shelter for you and your family long into the future.
Trying to keep up with maintenance on your home can be daunting especially if you are a new homeowner, as you might lack ideas on how to handle various tasks in your home.
The good news is that you can do most of the work yourself, so there is no need to feel overwhelmed.
You can create a home maintenance calendar to help you get all the tasks done efficiently and here are the four elements of your house to focus on that call for regular maintenance:
1. HVAC Filters
A variety of air conditioning systems contain filters to remove dust and dirt from the air. Many manufacturers will suggest you change your filters every month. However, it would be a good idea to do some research on your particular AC model before carrying out any maintenance, so that you can get an idea of what period of time you can safely leave between changes.
Although many HVAC experts will advise you to change your filters every month, it isn’t always necessary. If you have a smaller family and don’t have any pets or allergies, replacing them after every 2-3 months is okay.
Get used to checking regularly, as you can also change your filters if dirty.
2. Roof, Gutters, and Downspouts
It is suggested that you seek out a qualified roofer to get them to check your roof. They will let you know whether you need roofing repairs or not.
When you are cleaning the gutters and keeping them clear of debris take a look at the condition of your roof and guttering and act swiftly if you see something that needs fixing.
In addition to your own checks, it will also help you get your roof inspected every three years. Each time an inspection is performed on your roof, make sure that your skylights are checked too so that there are no leakages from cracks and other interruptions.
To keep the roof over your head in good condition ensure your gutters and downspouts are free from leaves and other objects to prevent clogging. Clogged drains can cause roof leakages. Make sure that you clean them at least twice a year or even more frequently depending on the number of trees around your home.
3. Kitchen Sinks
Your kitchen sink will get a lot of use and give you plenty of services if you keep it looking nice.
There are a bunch of ways to help maintain your kitchen sink, but one of the best of all solutions around is vinegar ice cubes.
Put some vinegar in an ice tray and let it freeze. After freezing the solution, run the ice cubes through the disposal sink. These ice cubes not only freshen your drain but also, sharpens the blades of your unit at the same time.
It makes sense to have the number of a good plumber for any repairs to your sink or other issues that you can’t do yourself.
Regularly inspect your sink and if you see any small plumbing problems get them fixed as soon as possible before they have the chance to become bigger problems.
4. Fireplace
Finally, if you want to use your fireplace, ensure that you build a fire on the andirons and not on the fireplace floor itself.
A real fire definitely makes a home but it does also need looking after to keep it in good order.
You can help maintain your fireplace by:
- Throwing a handful of salt to prevent soot and add color to the fire.
- Storing your firewood outside and not directly on the ground.
- Have a chimney sweep inspect your chimney annually before starting the fire on your furnace.
Bottom Line
While the list of chores might seem extensive at first glance you can soon develop a regular habit with maintenance where it doesn’t seem to arduous to keep your home in good shape.
Your commitment to the cause will help ensure that your home preserves its value and it is often the case that by having a maintenance regime you can spot any potential problems at an early stage and avoid getting stung with a big repair bill, which can happen if you don’t carry out regular checks.
