Homeownership is fulfilling and exciting. But keeping your home in great shape is a lot of work that most people wish they could avoid. Unfortunately, as a homeowner, you can’t elude the responsibility of maintaining your property.
Since maintenance is usually cheaper than repair, resist the temptation to skip out on little home maintenance steps if you’re a busy homeowner. You don’t want those little things to add up fast and cause significant damage to your home. This article will show you tips for staying on top of your home maintenance responsibilities despite your busy schedule and tight budget.
Become a Better Handy Person
Homeowners are now more open to donning their tool belts, tapes, and hammers to undertake maintenance projects around their homes because of the high prices of materials and supply chain disruptions. Being handy can help you, especially if you have a tight family budget and don’t have the option of getting a professional to do minor projects in your home. If you just bought your first home and are unsure how to go about the DIY tasks your property needs, take advantage of the resources available online. With the right search query, you can learn how to fix a garage door opener, how to inspect your home for signs of water damage, or how to change your locks yourself. Know how to handle the basics and then determine when you need to hire a professional.
To be a successful DIY homeowner, you must learn how to follow instructions. Before unscrewing or dismantling anything, read the instruction or manual that came with what you’re trying to fix or inspect. Also, cultivate the habit of keeping the owner’s manual, supplied tools, or extra parts of a device or equipment in a zip lock bag. Store them in a safe place because you never know when you might need them.
Clean Your Air Filters
Air filter cleaning may not sound exciting because you need to carry it out frequently, but it is a crucial task for every homeowner since it helps to improve indoor air quality and save money. If your air filter is clogged, your HVAC system will use up more energy when operating. To avoid forgetting it, add it to your to-do list and set a reminder for a space of three days. Having a three-day reminder is a great tactic for people with tight schedules. If you’re unable to get it done on the first day, you can do it the following day.
Most manufacturers recommend air filter replacement every three months. However, you should consider specific factors when deciding when to change your filters, such as the number and ages of people living in your home, whether you have pets, or whether you smoke indoors. Depending on these factors, you can decide to change your filters more frequently, maybe monthly.
Check Your Water Heater
Most homeowners will have to deal with a broken heater at some point in their lives, and water heaters usually cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fix or replace. To ensure your water heater is in tip-top shape for a long period, you must carry out routine maintenance on it.
Check your water heater temperature settings. If it is too hot or too cold, adjust accordingly, until it feels right. The ideal temperature is generally between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting it too low (below 120 degrees) increases the risk of bacteria developing in your heater from stagnant water. And if it is set too high (above 140 degrees), people living in your home could be at risk of scalding within a few seconds. Furthermore, you need to ensure that you have proper insulation so that your utility bills won’t be unnecessarily high.
Clean Your Gutters
Gutters are one of your first defenses against water damage. If they are dirty, they won’t do their jobs properly and prevent water damage from getting to your home’s foundation. So, you must clean your gutters regularly, especially before winter.
To clean your gutters, use a leaf rake or any other handy tool you have to clean out debris that might have collected in there with time. You can also put on long-handled gloves and use your hands to get the job done. If there are leaves or debris stuck in between the slats, use an extension pole with a brush attachment at the end to get them out. When doing this, take caution to avoid poking yourself.
