Home maintenance is a part of everyday life, especially for homeowners. Although some people spend hours each year fixing their homes, very few consider home maintenance until something breaks or needs fixing. Home Maintenance includes the overall diagnosis and repair of residential issues in a home to prevent these issues from happening in the future. When you consider how little most homeowners spend on their homes, it becomes apparent that home maintenance should be budgeted into the homeowner’s annual home budget. Home repairs, at times, require financing, but there are ways to do home repair on a budget that won’t drain the funds you have set aside for home repairs.
The majority of home maintenance issues can be prevented with routine cleaning. The first thing any homeowner should do is vacuum and mop the inside of their home twice a week – once in the morning and once at night. If your home is vinyl siding, this task will likely be more difficult as vinyl siding is not easy to clean. However, with hardwood siding, you can use a stiff brush and a strong detergent, such as Lysol, to clean out the siding. Always rinse off any soap residue to prevent staining. Be sure to do this before applying exterior or interior paints, like grease or other contaminants that may affect the performance of the paint.
While most people focus on the interior of their home, there are several things that should be done regarding the exterior as well. Home repairs for the exterior can include garden care, painting, and minor roof repair. The first thing any homeowner should do before doing any home maintenance is to inspect the exterior of their home for any cracks, which can become dangerous after heavy storms or two three years of rain. Before doing any home repair work, homeowners should check and make sure that there are no underground piping or electric lines that could be the source of the leak.
Another way to save money on home maintenance and repair is to make sure that you budget your time and attention in a more efficient manner. In order to cut down on unnecessary repairs, it is important to set aside extra time for maintenance. For example, if your lawn needs to be mowed and watched for grasses that are growing too fast, consider pruning these trees in advance and using some fertilizer. If you’re doing any landscaping, such as tree trimming or mulching, it’s also important to schedule the work so that it can be completed as much as possible without having to disturb residents too much. Homeowners often underestimate how much time they spend on upkeep and repair, which can result in them spending far more money than necessary.
Home maintenance and repair include everything from cleaning the gutters, cleaning the windows, putting up siding, or replacing shingles. If your roof has been leaking for years, repairing it is a top priority, but if your main water supply is clogged, then washing machine hoses could be to blame. Before purchasing any home maintenance or repair products, make sure to research the brands and prices of local suppliers before making purchases. It’s also smart to find out if you can get any discounts on products that may save you money over time. While some home maintenance and repair tasks may require the purchase of specialty tools, most home improvement stores have plenty of basic supplies that you can use for many tasks around the home.
If you live in an area where there is extreme weather, then it’s wise to factor that into your home maintenance costs. While you can often lower these expenses by purchasing energy-efficient appliances and window coverings, these things can only help so much. If you live in an area where the winters are particularly harsh, consider paying a few hundred dollars to remove tree branches that are blocking the sun from windows and doors. It’s also a good idea to check the seals of your garage doors regularly so that they aren’t leaking air and creating unwanted cold air within your car.
Another part of routine maintenance is keeping your chimney clear of debris. Many people think that the only purpose of a chimney is to warm the home so that the fireplace can work properly, but the smoke that rises from a burning fireplace contains millions of tiny leaves and other materials that can cause serious damage to a home. When you’re cleaning out your chimney, make sure to wear a protective mask so that you don’t breathe in any of this debris. It’s also a good idea to put a fire blanket inside so that you don’t catch any of the smoke as you go up and down the chimney.
Finally, a home maintenance task that many homeowners overlook is keeping their sewage pump and sump pump free of clogs. If you add up all of the water that your home consumes in a year and then divide that number by the number of people who live in your household, you’ll see that the cost of maintaining your entire plumbing system adds up very quickly. That’s why you need to do regular maintenance on both your sewer system and your sump pump. By keeping your drains clean and your sump pumps free of clogs, you’ll be able to save money on your home maintenance bill. Don’t neglect any of these important tasks that keep your plumbing system running smoothly.