As a homeowner, repairs, maintenance tasks, and home improvements are your responsibilities. To keep your home in excellent condition, create a plan for regularly tackling home maintenance chores to help you avoid costly repairs down the road.
1. Look for Plumbing Leaks
Take steps to prevent plumbing leaks because leaking water damages your home and increases your water bill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that fixing leaky faucets and pipes can save homeowners as much as 10 percent on their water bill. Water that seeps into floors, walls, and the foundation will eventually result in thousands of dollars in repair costs. A leaky faucet is easy to find and fix. Other leaks from pipes behind drywall should be checked by a professional with special tools like thermal imaging cameras or moisture meters.
2. Re-Caulking is One of the Easiest Home Maintenance Chores
The purpose of caulking is to keep water out of the crevices around sinks, tubs, and showers. Water that seeps into these places encourages unhealthy mold growth and eventually leads to rot in the floor and framing. Caulking is one of the easiest and least expensive home maintenance chores. Replacing rotting wood, wall studs, and joists is much more complicated and costly.
3. Termite Prevention is One of the Most Important Home Maintenance Chores
Termite damage will cost the average homeowner about $3,000 in treatment and repairs. If an infestation is caught early, you can avoid expensive and inconvenient whole house fumigation. Be on the lookout for swarms, discarded wings, and other telltale signs for termites and treat the problem promptly. Keep moisture away from your foundation and seal holes and cracks to keep termites from entering your home.
4.Gutter and Roof Home Maintenance Chores
Clogged gutters and damaged roof tiles allow water from rain and melting ice to seep under the roof and siding. Gutter cleaning is an easy DIY job, or you can pay a professional to do it for you. Either way, it’s another one of the home maintenance chores that can save thousands in repairs. Regularly inspect the roof (or have someone do it for you) and replace any missing or broken shingles or roof tiles.
5. Inspect Exterior Paint and Siding
Prevent water damage and pest infestations by keeping exterior paint and siding in good condition. Check for cracked and flaking paint and siding damage. Most homeowners find sanding and repainting small areas such as window and door trimming one of the easiest home maintenance chores. You may want to consider hiring a professional for bigger jobs.
6. Seal Decking
The elements take a toll on outdoor decks. If water doesn’t bead when sprinkled on decking, it needs to be resealed. A sealant will only set you back about $50 while damaged decking can lead to damaged joists and ties underneath. The repairs then become much more costly and time-consuming.
7. Inspect the Foundation and Concrete Slabs
Cracks in concrete invite water and insect infestations that can cause significant damage later on. Small cracks and fissures are easy to fix, and there are several inexpensive products available for the job.
8. Inspect the Outdoors
Be sure to tackle outdoor home maintenance chores. Check for plants growing close to the foundation. Their roots can cause cracks. Check trees for dead branches that could fall and cause injury to people and damage to your home. A tree removal company can remove them for you much cheaper than the cost of structural repairs.
Home Guard Inspections helps homeowners in Bismarck-Mandan protect their investment through maintenance inspections. Schedule an appointment here.