Purchasing your first home is one of the best feelings in the world. However, people may not know that properties usually require a bit of maintenance. Maintenance is the key to a healthy and safe home environment, helps maintain your property value, and ensures that you won’t have to make any costly repairs in the future.
Here are a few ways to keep your home in tip-top shape!
Schedule Periodical Inspections
Before buying your home, you probably scheduled a home inspection to ensure that everything was working well and that your home was safe. Do the same even after you buy your home. It doesn’t have to be often; scheduling a full home inspection every few years is a good way to ensure that there are no issues. This is especially important if you ever plan on selling your home in the future. Don’t wait until the last minute to have your home inspected; checking in advance will prevent any costly repairs brought on by newly discovered issues.
Trim Back Your Trees
If your property has any trees, have them inspected by a licensed arborist who can help you check for any dead branches or signs of a dying tree. Dead trees can be a safety hazard for you, your family, your home, and even your neighbors. Making sure that your trees are healthy will beautify your property and prevent any unnecessary accidents from happening. Also, make sure to trim any branches that touch your house or the roof. Doing this will keep any rodents and infestations away.
Replace Your HVAC Filter
If your home has a centralized heat and air system, remember to replace their HVAC filters at least twice a year. It’s also important to have a technician service your heating and cooling systems twice a year as well. Having them check the ductwork for signs of damage and clean and service your furnace, A/C compressor, and bathroom vents will help make sure that no dust or mold buildup happens, as these can cause allergies or health issues for the people in your household.
Check on Your Plumbing
One of the items to keep at the top of your to-do list is to check on your plumbing and drainage systems. Roots, deposit buildup, and other issues can cause problems at the worst times. Find a well-established plumbing and drainage company that can help you create a maintenance plan to keep your drains clean. You’ll be thankful you did it.
A quick note to prevent emergency visits from your plumber: do not throw any oil or grease down the drain. Even if you plan to pour boiling water into your drain to get rid of the oils, chances are the oil will build up and is likely to clog your sink. After cooking, let the oil or grease cool and solidify before scraping it into a leak-proof container and throwing it in the garbage.
Check on Your Roof
Roof maintenance is not the easiest, nor is it the safest. Keep your eye on your roof and ceilings for any problems, and if you see a leak, have it fixed right away. If you’re looking to clean your roof, on the other hand, save yourself from any possible accident and hire professional cleaners who can take care of that for you. Your roof is the first line of defense in protecting your home’s external membrane. If something goes wrong, it will cause a lot of problems later on.
Get Rid of Dust
It’s nearly impossible to avoid dust, but it is possible to stop it from building up and causing problems. Buildups usually happen in places we don’t check regularly. Dust can shorten the lifespan of our household appliances and increase fire risk. On the other hand, if inhaled, dust particles cause allergies, irritate the eyes, throat, and skin, and even cause major respiratory and cardiovascular problems if left alone.
Don’t Put Off Maintenance Work
Delaying any maintenance work is a big no-no for homeowners. Keep an eye on wood that might be rotting, have your air conditioning checked regularly, and if you have a pest problem, call pest control right away. Keeping an eye on all these things, including your plumbing, electrical, and drainage systems, will benefit you now and in the future should you suddenly decide to sell your home.
After getting your first home, all this maintenance work might seem overwhelming. But don’t worry since most of the items on the list only have to be serviced once or twice a year. Learn to keep a list of what needs to be inspected or repaired and when to keep your home at its best.
