If you are a homeowner, then you know there is a lot of work involved to keep your home looking great and working well. Failing or forgetting to maintain important items can snowball into larger problems over time. Try to prevent major issues from arising by taking care of the small things on a timeline or as they need attention. Keep reading for helpful tips and ideas to keep your home working well.
Maintain Your HVAC System
If you have not been taking care of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system at least annually, do not wait a moment longer. It is a necessary home maintenance item that you cannot let go by the wayside.
The best part of servicing your HVAC system is that you do not have to do it yourself. Contact the licensed professionals at R-10 HVAC and AC Repair to get the job done right. They will assess your HVAC system at least before the cold weather sets in each fall or winter and then can come out to provide a spring service before you need to turn on the air conditioning unit.
By routinely servicing this necessary large home appliance, the experts can tell you if there are needed repairs before the unit falls into disrepair and needs to be replaced. The house call and maintenance or service fees will cost considerably less than a new HVAC unit so it is always best to take care of it. Of note, the technicians will change the air filter in your unit, but you should also be changing it every 90 days.
And, while the technicians are at your house already, go ahead and make your life so much easier. Ask them to install a smart thermostat. These thermostats function with a touchpad screen where you can set schedules and change heating and cooling zones, if applicable. But, the best part is the corresponding app on your smartphone. With the app installed, you can change the temperature without ever getting up. Or, you can even change it while you are on vacation. Once it is in place, you will wonder how you ever lived without it.
Clean Out the Gutters
One job that might not be on your list of fun things to do is cleaning out the gutters. Unfortunately, it is a necessary task. And, it is even more important if you live in an area with trees. When the wind picks up and the leaves or seed pods begin to drop, gravity does not take them immediately. Instead, they flutter around in the breeze and eventually land on your roof where they make their way down to your eaves and gutters. When it rains, this organic debris moves down the spouts and out into the exit areas.
If there is too much material collected up there, a bird decides to make a nest in your gutters, or one of the kids lands a fly ball on the roof, a very frustrating clog may ensue. If the pathway is blocked and water begins to pool up, the only place for it to flow in a rainstorm is over the top of the gutters. This results in it spewing down the side of your home and landing near the base, which is where you want to keep it from accumulating.
As such, you should clean the gutters out at least twice per year. Go up on your roof in the fall, once all or most of the leaves have fallen, and before the first snow. Clean everything out once again in the spring when the ground and sidewalks are safely clear of snow and ice. You will be amazed at everything that gathers on the roof and in the gutters over winter.
If you do not feel safe or have the time to take on this task yourself, there are plenty of companies that specialize in this type of home care. Just make sure to ask for a license and always check references before engaging in services.
Follow a Home Maintenance Schedule
Every season is both one to enjoy and another to attend to regarding taking care of your home. Follow a maintenance schedule designed specifically for your home and region or climate.
If you have purchased a home from a builder, have had your own home built specifically for you, or have a home warranty, the builder or warranty company will likely provide you with a specialized maintenance schedule. Take it out, put it on the fridge or your calendar app, and then follow it. It will help to ensure that everything stays in good working order.
Watch this video for monthly and annual checklists and tips on what you should check or maintain around your home.
Keep Your Home Clean
It should go without saying, but keeping your home clean is important for a variety of reasons. On the surface, it just looks better. A clean home is more orderly and certainly more inviting to others.
Underneath the surface, if you have not kept up with the essential cleaning tasks that every home needs, you will notice problems begin to pop up. Dust and debris can build up on your vents and back up into the HVAC unit, causing it to work more than it should and dirty the filter quicker than usual.
That same dirt may reside under your furniture along with pet hair and dander. This is practically an invitation for bugs to join your home. Dust mites are attracted by, you guessed it, dust. Mites along with dust and dirt can contribute to allergies year-round since the allergens are actually living in the home with you and your family.
By taking proactive and preventative steps to care for your home, you are not only caring for your family, but you are helping to secure your future. By tackling responsible homeownership, you will save money over the long term by not needing to replace things that could have simply been attended to and fixed. You will spend less time on the things you do not enjoy and so much more time being comfortable with the people you love – your family and friends.
Leave a Reply