Not everyone is gifted with the ability to fix broken pieces in the house. But minor damages like wobbly tables, creaking floors, and leaks usually require many skills to resolve. As long as you have a little skill and the willingness to learn, most home maintenance and repair challenges are not so hard to do.
It would be better if you already own some tools to use to maintain your house: drills, screwdrivers, vice grips, saws, hammers, and drill bits are some of the essential tools you will need. But if you don’t, many hardware shops sell a complete set of tools.
In addition, you will also need to have silicone lubricant, WD-40, expanding soap, cream of tartar, and baking soda. With that in mind, let’s talk about the house maintenance tips all homeowners should know.
Monthly Checklist
Giving your home a monthly inspection will help you stay on the maintenance schedule. It also allows you to keep track of damages, making it easier to manage the house. Follow this home maintenance checklist every month to save money and time:
- Remove the dust build-ups in the furnace filter. Cleaning the filter every month is an excellent way to regulate your house’s temperature, which is crucial if you want to save energy.
- Remove mineral deposits from faucet aerators and showerheads regularly.
- Always check the water softener.
- Unclog tub and sink drains to remove stuck debris.
- Once a month, test the smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, home circuit, and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Inspect all electrical cords.
- Vacuum your heat vents and registers.
- Inspect the outdoor and indoor vents, check if they are blocked.
- As much as possible, always remove hot water from the water heater.
Before buying a house, ask your real estate agent or realtor if the house was adequately maintained, especially if the price is a bit out of your budget. Most of the time, you can easily spot well-maintained homes as they look particularly neat. However, unmaintained homes are more affordable, but you will have to do extra work to make them presentable.
Winter Maintenance
It’s pretty apparent that winter can be extremely harsh to properties, particularly to homes. The freezing temperature can result in many problems like roof damage and frozen pipes. What’s even more frustrating is that it can be pretty hard to find a maintenance specialist during extreme weather.
To prevent damages caused by winter, ensure to follow this winter maintenance checklist for your home:
- Protect your air-conditioning unit by covering it.
- Inspect if your basement has leaks.
- Check if your gutters, roof, and downspouts have any damages.
- Vacuum your bathroom exhaust fan grill.
- Clean and empty refrigerator drip trays.
- Clean drains in tubs, sinks, dishwashers, and sinks.
Spring Maintenance
Once the trees start t bud and the ground has thawed, it’s time to prepare for spring. Apart from your routine spring cleaning, you might also find these tips helpful. Consider this spring maintenance checklist to keep your home well-kept.
- Check if the roof has loose, damaged, or missing shingles. Look for leaks too.
- Replace your air-conditioner filter.
- Clean your door screens and windows.
- Restore the deck.
- Power-wash sidings and windows.
- Remove debris and leaves from downspouts and gutters.
- Replace your carbon monoxide and smoke detector’s batteries.
- Hire a professional to inspect the septic tank.
- Check if your shower, bath, and sink are in good condition.
- Inspect the chimney.
- Check the sprinkler heads.
- Call your air-conditioning system service provider for maintenance.
- Drain your water heater.
Summer Maintenance
Summer is a hectic season for a lot of people. And when we say busy, we mean busy getting out of their houses to go to the beach. Summer is the season where home maintenance is often neglected. But there are some tasks to do first before you head on to your summer trip.
- Put oil in your garage door opener and other door hinges.
- Clean all of your dryer vents and washer hoses.
- Clean or replace your kitchen exhaust fan filter.
- Empty and clean refrigerator drip trays.
- Inspect if the dishwasher, bathroom cabinets, and everything in the kitchen have leaks.
- Replace your exterior and interior faucets.
The Importance of Home Maintenance
As a homeowner, you need to keep in mind that home maintenance is essential. It might involve things like minor repairs around the property, looking for cracks on the walls, and leaks on the roof, but it’s excessively beneficial in the long run.
Here’s why you need to maintain your house:
- Increases the value of your home.
- Saves you a lot of time and money.
- Protects your house from damages.
- Better living experience.
- Prevents pests from into the property.
Hopefully, this article helps you keep your home presentable and valuable. Home maintenance does require hard work. But the benefits it poses are what makes it worth it. Keep your home well-maintained for a better quality of life.
