Whether you are a new home owner or not, we all want to keep our castles running nice and smoothly , the following list goes a bit beyond the dishes and vacuum , these are just as important as any regular activity around the house and believe me will save you from future headaches.
- PLUMBING
A few simple steps can go a long way, it is wise for you to keep an eye on those things that for sure we give for granted, especially when you don’t see them on a daily basis. If you have exposed pipes in your property you should consider to insulate them, especially if they run through your unheated basement or garage. Uninsulated pipes are susceptible to temperature changes and start to sweat, this in the long run will cause the pipes to corrode and therefore decreasing their usable life.
As a property owner, give yourself the task to know where all the shutoff valves are located , you never want to wake up to the sound of running water in your main floor.
- FOUNDATION AND OUTSIDE STRUCTURE
It is true that the external fascia of the property must have an appeal, but moreover is the fact that protects you from the outside weather, therefore having an occasional eye inspection and proper clean up when possible will give you a good impression on where you should place your attention to.
For instance if you notice the outside tap (known as a bib) froze during the winter, replace it with an antifreeze model—this do-it-yourself fix could save you thousands in the long run.
Giving maintenance to your foundation will save you from very costly repairs,for instance you could spend $500 in repairing the crack where the driveway meets the house or you could not care for it and wait until it develops a hasty $9000to excavate and waterproof the foundation.
explains Bryan Baeumler, a contractor and the host of HGTV’s House of Bryan. Look for signs of settling, such as small hairline cracks. Keep a special lookout for cracks that widen over time, cracks that follow your concrete block foundation in a step pattern, or cracks above windows. These may be an indication of a larger foundation problem.
- HEATING , VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING
Schedule an annual inspection and cleaning of your furnace in the early fall, to tackle down most of problems, this starts to cleaning leaves and debris before you turn on the device.
Try to change the air filter as often regularly. Not doing so forces the unit to breathe through a straw reflecting the striving in the bills.
Also consider replacing the weather stripping on the windows, doors, as well as the door sweep, the rubber band at the bottom of the door that creates an airtight seal, this simple and cheap maintenance tips will increase the energy efficiency of your home and will prolong the usable life of your devices.
- DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING
A well done garden can add up to 20% of the value of a property but it also hides a purpose that is potentially more important than the eye candy and that is to drain the water away from the foundation.
To prevent water from seeping into your basement you should pay particular attention to the underside of the eaves (known as the soffits), the material that caps your gutters (known as the fascia), as well as downspouts and drains. Keep these clear of debris, such as leaves and twigs, and check for blockages. Expect to do it on an annual basis. Check out if the water runs away from the property or is it accumulating on the side waiting to be absorbed? Remember: the easier it is for water to flow away from your home, the less likelihood of damage.
Finally in a nutshell , I hope this maintenance tips will save from having major issues in the long run and at the same time you enjoy your acquired property to the most.
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