Keeping up routine maintenance on your home is the ideal way to prevent larger problems from occurring in the future. Investing a small amount of time and money now can prevent you from having to spend thousands of dollars in the future to make larger repairs. These are some of the top preventative home maintenance tips that every homeowner should routinely do to take care of their home and protect the value of their home.
1) Replace Filters
Regularly inspecting and replacing the HVAC filters in your home is an easy and quick way to help prevent damage to your central heating and cooling system. Replacing your HVAC filter takes about 30 seconds and is one of the best ways to ensure that you extend the life of your forced-air HVAC system. In addition, replacing your filter regularly will improve the air quality in your home, though avoid using cheap, inefficient filters. Using fresh filters can help reduce allergies and illness in your family by keeping the air fresh and free of dander.
2) Caulk the Bathroom and Kitchen
To prevent mold in your home and water damage to the interior and foundation of your home, you want to ensure that the caulk in the bathroom and kitchen are in shape. This preventative home maintenance tip should only take about 10 minutes. Simply caulk problem areas to prevent water damage.
3) Clean Rain Gutters
Another important thing for all homeowners to do is to clean their rain gutters. This is crucially important to do in the fall months. Keeping your gutters clean and free of leaves will help ensure that water drains properly and does not leak into your foundation.
4) Add Drain Plugs
Using a drain plug or a hair stopper is a great way to prevent clogs in your drains. Every homeowner should consider adding a drain stopper to their kitchen sink and bathtub. This will help prevent food, debris, and hair from getting into your drains and causing massive clogs. This small tip can help save you thousands of dollars in the long run and increase the lifespan of your pipes.
5) Check Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are life-saving devices. However, they are among the most unchecked items in the home. Like all battery-operated electronics, they need to be checked to ensure that the batteries are working. Every homeowner should take one minute to hit the smoke detector in their home once a month. This small and simple tip can help save your family's lives. The same applies to carbon monoxide detectors.
6) Inspect Pipes for Leaks
Inspecting pipes for leaks is an essential preventative home maintenance tip. Plumbing leaks often go undetected for weeks or months. A leak often starts out very slow and soon ends with a puddle of water. To prevent water damage and unwanted water, inspect your pipes once a month for any leaks. To do this, you simply need to check under the sinks in your home for any signs of standing water or a noticeable drip. If you see anything unusual, you can try to seal the leak or call a professional to help.
7) Stain Wood Furniture Outside
As more and more homeowners are enjoying indoor-outdoor living, the increase in patio furniture is growing. If you have any wood furniture outside, or even a wood patio, you should stain it each year to keep it in great shape. Not only will stain improve the look of wood furniture, but it will increase the lifespan and durability of the wood.
8) Clean and Power Wash Windows
To help your home look and feel clean, clean and power wash the windows and exterior siding of your home about once a year. Take the time to clean them thoroughly in the warmer months, so they look great all year. This simple maintenance tip can help prevent dirt and insects from getting into your home and increase curb appeal.
9) Inspect Exterior of Home for Insects
Insects are among the most damaging things that can enter your home. You should frequently check the exterior of your home for any insects that may be making their way inside. Bugs and pests can cause unwelcome problems in your home, so it's crucial that you get rid of them early. Check for any cracks in the foundation, cracks in the window or door frame, or other areas where they may enter the house. You may need to spray insect repellant if you notice a problem.
10) Carpet Cleaning
Another great way to keep your home looking and feeling great is by getting regular carpet cleaning. It is often recommended that you shampoo your carpets once a year, or more, to keep allergens, dust, dander, and other debris out of your home. A comprehensive carpet cleaning can improve the air quality of your home and also add value to the home.
These preventative home maintenance tips can ensure that your home is a safe and healthy place to live for all members of your family. To prevent larger and more costly problems from occurring in the future, try creating a schedule and a plan to act on these preventative home maintenance tips. They can give you peace of mind and ensure that you are maintaining and increasing the value of your home each year.
