6 Yearly Home Maintenance Tips
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If you’ve been living in your home for a while, you may be feeling guilty about having put off all your routine maintenance for your home. Because we all know clogged gutters turn into water damage, chipped paint can lead to rotting wood and other small problems could turn into huge problems later and can end up hurting your resale value.
You want to keep an eye out for the little things and make sure they don’t turn into bigger problems you can’t handle on your own. Below are a few basic home maintenance tips that can make a huge difference and help motivate you to get it done sooner rather than later.
- Does Your Doorbell Work: A super simple thing to check is your doorbell once in a while- this is one thing you don’t typically use yourself and can miss if it’s not working! This small detail makes such a difference if you are having guests over, waiting on a package or just the ‘welcome home’ easy fix that can make your house a home. If your doorbell isn’t working, take it as an opportunity to upgrade it to something new like a wireless or camera doorbell that allows you to see from your phone without having to actually answer the door yourself.
- Clean Out Exhaust Fans: Do you know that your fans in your home help to clean out smells and moisture? But if they can’t do their job efficiently, you run the risk of growing molding mildew in your home. Once a year, take the time to remove and thouroughly clean your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. This will keep the hardware running smoothly, and the moisture out of your home.
- Look At Your Downspouts: Have you looked around the perimeter of your home to check for downspouts that have been detached from your home? If downspouts become detached, gutter and rainwater will not get directed away from the home and can lead to water intrusion, flooding, or even foundation issues. This is a minor fix that can save you major cash down the road, as well as your foundation.
4. Maintain Your Septic Tank: I know many homeowners that don’t take care of their septic tank if they have one but in all honesty, this is one big thing that you should leave to the professionals ( but also watch to see if you can do any maintenance yourself ). Scorpion Septic Service offers assistance in making sure your septic tank is running smoothly. They go through goals, inspections and more plus ranked one of the highest companies for septic pumping near Dallas, Georgia.
5. Check Your Siding: Your siding should be cleaned twice a year and will not only boost the curb appeal, but also prolong the life of it. The perfect time to clean your siding is during the spring and again in the fall. Rent a power washer and take one afternoon to get the job done, or look in a local group for a small business that does this for a great price! Choose a pressure washer and nozzle wisely because too much pressure can lead to damage or even crumble already weak spots in the exterior of your home.
6. Remove Lint From Your Dryer: While you’ve heard probably from your parents and random commercials to clean out the dryer vent ( and not just remove the lint from the filter but actually clean out that vent crevice ), it really is essential. This not only keeps your dryer running efficiently, but also can increase it’s longevity. Another main reason to do this is that it also will keep your dryer from sparking a fire from the heat and lint buildup.
Home maintenance can seem like such a burden, but start small when it comes to your home and go from there. Once you’ve accomplished one task, you’ll learn how to do the other big things as they come and it’ll be easier to maintain. If you are ever uncertain on a job, call a professional to show you the correct way to do it. Not only will it save you time and frustration, but will also teach you the right way to get it done in the future.