Many of us stick to our home maintenance routines, fearing costly damages and safety hazards. We’d all agree that home maintenance is a fundamental task for home ownership, but in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to ignore the little things. Today, we’re going to take a look at 6 tasks you could be overlooking, along with some home maintenance tips for each job.
Testing Alarms and Detectors
It’s known that testing things like fire alarms or carbon monoxide detectors is a good thing to do every so often, but it’s much better to do it every month.
You always want to know if there’s a danger in your home, so it’s essential to test your alarm systems so you can rest easy knowing they will work in any worst-case scenario.
Home Maintenance Tips for Alarm Testing
Before testing, always make sure to tell your housemates and warn them of any loud sounds that may occur. Do your research beforehand and follow the recommended guidelines for your smoke detectors and fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and any other home security systems you may have.
Cleaning Gutters
Your gutter’s downspout drainage system could be compromised because of leaves, pine needles, debris from worn shingles, and more buildup that collects over time. Uncleared gutters clog, which can cause mold growth, infestations, water damage to the roof and home foundation, and more.
Why is it important to clean gutters?
The average homeowner spends about $160 to have their gutters professionally cleaned, which is minimal compared to the thousands of dollars it would cost for a roof replacement, exterior wall damage restoration, or interior flooring replacement.
Recommended Gutter Maintenance Routines
Don’t try cleaning your own gutters in bad weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice. Make sure you are using a stabilized, quality ladder. To protect your skin, wear long sleeves and gloves as you scoop out the debris. A leaf blower is helpful to use to blow out buildup. Run your hose through the gutter to clear out any excess debris.
Making Sure Vents are Clear
Your home could develop a buildup of potentially harmful gases and particles from combustion appliances because of improper ventilation. In addition to this safety hazard, closed rooms with poor ventilation can lead to mold growth when humidity is high and humidity can also lead to more damage.
Home Maintenance Tips for Clearing Vents
Keeping vents clear is as easy as running a brush through or using an air compressor on low pressure. You can also use a vacuum with an attachment that can reach into corners. On your home’s exterior, brush aside any leaves, snow, or anything else that’s obstructing your vents.
Checking Household Cords
Today, we keep a large number of electronics in our homes. More electronics means more cords, so it’s important to ensure those are in good shape. Frayed cords create more heat and cause electrical fires because they damage wire insulation. Make sure all cords in your house are not damaged, and immediately address any exposed wires.
Best Maintenance Routines for Electrical Safety
Frayed cords can be spotted and replaced throughout the home, and minor damages can be secured in electrical tape.
Cleaning The Furnace Filter
Cleaning a furnace filter is an important home maintenance task that is often overlooked. A clogged filter can cause your furnace to work harder than necessary, leading to increased energy costs and possible damage to your furnace.
Recommended Furnace Filter Maintenance Routines
The best way to clean your filter is to vacuum it off with a hose attachment. If the filter is really dirty, you can also soak it in a tub of hot water and dish soap. Make sure the filter is completely dry before reinstalling it in your furnace.
Fixing Broken Shingles
If you notice broken or missing shingles on your roof, it’s important to fix them as soon as possible. A roof with damaged shingles is more susceptible to water damage, which can lead to costly home repairs down the road.
Home Maintenance Tips for Broken Shingles
Fixing broken shingles on a roof is a tough and dangerous job to do by yourself. DIY roof jobs can end up being more costly than hiring professionals, due to the cost of retail materials, amount of research and professional tools needed, and precious time it will take up. We recommend to seek out professional help to keep your roof safe, functional, and beautiful year-round.
