Being a homeowner is a big and at times a very demanding job.
If you have lived in a rented apartment or house in the past, your probably don’t realize how much work goes into maintaining a house.
A lot of apartment complexes have a designated maintenance crew that takes care of the yard work, cleaning the gutters, replacing A/C filters, tuning up the HVAC system, and a lot more. However, you are stuck with all these and more jobs when you are the homeowner.
But, by regularly keeping up with home maintenance you can make sure repairs don’t cost a lot and you even save a lot money by staying on top of these tasks.
So, if you are looking to save money and home maintenance tips, get started with one of these easy homes’ maintenance tips over the weekend.
Install ceiling fans
A great way to save on heating and cooling is to install ceiling fans in your home, especially on the upper floor. Energy-efficient ceiling fans allow air to move and help you feel cooler during the summers.
Ceiling fans can save you money, given that you are using energy-efficient ceiling fans and you change your thermostat settings or set the air condition temperature up a few degrees. Installing a ceiling fan might be a bit complicated DIY project, especially if you are new at this, but it’s doable.
Apply weather stripping
Typically, doors and windows come with weather stripping features, these are lengths of rubber or metal thing that seal the gaps. However, lower-end doors and windows may not come with weather stripping.
That said, weather stripping wears out, which means you will have to regularly redo this to be able to save on air conditioning and heating expense.
Seal HVAC ducts
A lot of the homes lose most of the air moving through the HVAC ducts because of the holes, lack of insulation, and poor connections.
Many ducts are made using metal sheets, which makes them easy to insulate and long-lasting. However, they can also easily leak. So, if you have a traditional duct, you might want to seal them to save some of the heating and cooling costs.
Regularly change HVAC filters
You should change the filters of your heating and cooling systems after every one or two months, depending on how much you are running the system. You can even build the habit of changing the filter when you get your electricity or gas bill. Clean filters make it easier and efficient for the system to circulate air.
Clean fridge coils
Fridges can suck up electricity like anything if they are not maintained properly. These days, most fridges have refrigerant coils are the back. These coils have coolants, which keep your fridge cold. Keeping your fridge coils clean can make their functions run more efficiently. You might want to make this a semi-annual practice.
Clean your dryer vent
Have you noticed, often your clothes take longer to dry if you haven’t cleaned the lint trap? Now, imagine the effect if you have built-up lint in the dryer vent.
Cleaning your dryer vent isn’t challenging and you should make it part of your regular home maintenance practice. Typically, dryers take up a lot of energy, this way you can save your energy consumption and ensure the dryers work longer.
Clean your air conditioner
Whether you use central air or window-mounted units, cleaning your air conditioner is very helpful in keeping it efficient. That said, cleaning the A/C isn’t that difficult. You can make it a practice to clean the air conditioner unit once a year or whenever you start using it after a gap.
Check and repair faucets
Faucet leaks can waste a lot of water, so it is important to regularly check them. You are likely to notice any leak in faucets in the areas that you commonly use in the house. Hence, it is better to make a habit to regularly check faucets particular in the less-used areas of the house, like the guest bathroom.
You can fix the leak yourself if you have the basic know-how. But, if you think there is serious damage, you can always call up a professional.
Inspect and repair your roof
Your roof typically needs to be replaced every ten to twenty years, depending on different factors. However, by regularly inspecting your roof, you can take care of basic repairs or replacement before you are forced to deal with any leaks that may damage your property.
Inspecting the roof means getting on it and looking for problems firsthand. Even if you are not an expert, with time you can learn to identify possible problem areas.
Clean gutters and downspouts
Having a functional gutter system is necessary to ensure the water is directed away from the house’s foundation. In case your gutter is clogged, this means the water will run out of the sides instead of going through the downspouts.
Hence, make sure you make a habit of cleaning gutter regularly, at least once or twice a year. To avoid any serious problems, a lot of homeowners also take professional help for septic tank pumping, which helps clean out any solid waste, sludge, and liquid that has accumulated over a period of time.
You might also want to consider drain field repair as well to avoid any problems like flooding and drain backups.
Make sure your A/C drains properly
The air conditioner drain is supposed to funnel water out, away from the A/C unit as well as your house walls. However, the A/C drain can cause condensation to back up if it is clogged or if it’s not long enough.
This will result in wet walls or water near the A/C unit. Hence, make sure your A/C drains well and is directed away from the walls, carpet, and air conditioner unit.
Check for termite damage
It is also important to check your house for possible termite damage, which can be visible from inside and outside of the house. Termite damage can weaken the wood and might cause bog problems for you. But, if you are able to catch termites early, you can save yourself from having to spend a lot of money.
Drain and clean the humidifier
You are likely to have a built-in humidifier if you have central heating, which helps keep your home more comfortable during winters. Humidifiers are great but they can also cause air quality issues if they are not maintained properly.
Hence, make sure to turn off the humidifier in summer as the air is already more humid. Remember to drain and clean the humidifier before turning it off to avoid forming mold and mildew. When you clean and drain the humidifier, make sure to change the evaporation pad as well.
Maintaining the house
Buying your home is just the start, maintaining your house over the years and making sure it holds up its value is the difficult task. Besides the market value, it is very important to keep up with the repairing and maintenance jobs to help you save big money in the later years and enable you to enjoy a better home and life experience.
