Every home needs a little TLC, as every home has to deal with the wear and tear of age and use. However, a home that gets a little more attention before the next crisis emerges tends to cost a lot less than the home that only gets professional attention when it’s obviously needed. As such, here, we’re going to look at the different levels of preventative maintenance that can make a big difference in your annual repair budget, and where you could use a little more attention.
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Make Big Savings With Regular Roof Inspections
The roof is the silent protector of the home, until it’s not. If you ignore the minor issues that can arise from its constant protection against the elements, they can quickly snowball into very expensive issues. Cracked shingles, worn flashing, or hidden leaks might not be obvious until there's water damage in your attic or mold in your walls. Schedule a roof inspection at least once a year, especially if you’ve recently seen any dramatic weather, like storms or high wind speeds. Catching small issues and keeping your roof in good condition now can prevent repairs that cost literal thousands down the line. Of course, it’s important to be aware of the age of the roof and its eventual need for replacement, too.
Keep The Cost Of Comfort Under Control
The heating and cooling systems in the home are some of those that we rely on the most, but we can take them for granted and overlook them, as well. Minor issues like dirty filters, neglected ducts, and failing components force your system to work harder, wasting energy and shortening its lifespan. Aside from more expensive repairs, you may be forced to pay big in order to replace them sooner than you ought to. By having your HVAC serviced twice a year, you can drastically lower the chances of having to replace it when winter or summer make your heating and cooling work all the harder.
Are You Keeping Your Pipes Healthy?
Our plumbing is another part of the home that’s very easy to ignore until it starts showing issues. Springing a leak might be a relatively easy fix, but if your pipes are suffering from the buildup of soap scum, grease, hair, and other debris, it can begin to narrow your pipes, slowing drainage and increasing the pressure. This can lead to major blockages and even pipe damage, which can be very costly to repair. Working with teams like Kris's Plumbing Done Right, you can invest in a little hydro jetting to make sure that your pipes are kept clean and clear. A routine inspection of your plumbing can ensure that you don’t have any major water damage in your future.
A Healthy Foundation Makes For A Healthy Home
The foundation is the core of the home. It’s what it literally stands on, after all. However, issues like root growth near your home or the slow intrusion of water can wear away at it, putting the whole house at risk. Water is the biggest threat by far, often due to improper drainage, clogged gutters, and poor grading. If water starts to pool around your home, especially after it rains, it’s time to check your basement for cracks and do what you can to improve your drainage now. Improving the grading around the home or installing a French drain can be a lot less expensive than having to repair your foundation some ways down the line.
Don’t Neglect Your Pest Control
If you live in an area affected by termites, rodents, or carpenter ants, or have had trouble with them in the past, then you should make sure that you’re vigilant for them each and every year. These creatures tend to invade quietly and often go unnoticed until there’s real damage. Left unchecked, they can chew through insulation, wiring, wood framing, and drywall, costing you thousands in repairs. The only way to be certain that you’re keeping the home safe from them is by working with teams like Fox Pest Control. Not only can they check for signs of any invasions, but they cna make sure that preventative measures are put up that make these unwanted guests less likely to find their way into your home in the first place.
Don’t Neglect The Water Heater
The water heater works diligently every day to supply you with the modern miracle that is warm water. However, these devices can be prone to issues like sediment building up at the bottom of the tank, reducing their efficiency, and eventually leading to leaks or total failure. As such, at least once a year, you should flush your water heater to clear out sediment and check for rust, corrosion, or strange noises. A licensed plumber can inspect the pressure relief valve and thermostat to ensure they're functioning safely. Like all appliances, water heaters do have a life expectancy, and most tend to last around 8 to 12 years before you need to think of a replacement.
Don’t Forget The Exterior
If you want to maintain the comfort and curb appeal of your garden and home’s exterior, then your decks, fences, and driveways are going to need some care, as well. The sun, rain, and changes in temperature over the year can lead to warping and rotting wood, while concrete can crack and crumble. Be sure to pressure wash your deck and reseal it to prevent any moisture damage over time. Any loose boards or nails should be replaced quickly to prevent them from affecting the rest of the construction, as well. For concrete, inspect for cracks and apply sealant to prevent water penetration, which can cause deeper damage in freezing temperatures.
Preventive maintenance is going to cost some time, money, and energy, but it’s going to cost a lot less than finding yourself always blindsided by the next major repair that your home needs. Keep an eye out for the issues above and invest in being a little more thorough in how you care for your home.
This is a contributed post.
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