As a homeowner, if you want your home to remain beautiful and comfortable for years to come, it is important to ensure that your home is in its best condition.
Following a maintenance schedule is vital to keep your home a welcoming place that’s safe and ensures the comfort of everyone in your household. Regular inspections of your appliances, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, electrical, and security will significantly help avert breakdowns, save money, and keep your home at its best.
If you want to make sure your home stays safe and comfortable at all times, here are maintenance tips you should try today:
1. Test The Sump Pump
When flooding is a concern in your area, you should prioritize your sump pump. A sump pump is often in the basement and serves as the last line of defense against flooding, water accumulation from drains, and condensation buildup.
It’s crucial to test your sump pump at least every six months with the following steps:
- Remove any debris from the external pipe.
- Restart the pump to see if it’s working and add water into the crock.
- Check if the pump begins to operate and drives the water away.
For additional protection, especially during the rainy season, you might consider installing an automatic leak detector.
2. Pest Prevention
There are various ways to keep your home free of pests, such as ants, spiders, wasps, cockroaches, mosquitoes, house flies, small rodents, and many more. When it comes to pest prevention and landscape care, pest control companies like ifyardbutler.com can help tackle pest control and landscaping concerns. Remember prevention should always be a top priority. Here are some tips to keep pests at bay:
- Make sure that the kitchen is clean. Pests thrive in damp, dirty environments. The ideal way to prevent an infestation is to keep the kitchen racks, counters, drawers, and stovetop clean.
- Get rid of standing water. Pests such as mosquitoes breed in stagnant sources of water. Make sure to clean the area around your home and keep the drains running outdoors.
- Proper disposal of garbage. One of the ways to prevent pests is to maintain appropriate garbage disposal. It’s essential to dispose of waste every day. Once garbage accumulates, it can put your home at higher risk for a rat, mice, and cockroach infestation.
- Repair nets or screens on windows. House flies, spiders, mosquitoes, and cockroaches can enter your home if the window nets or screens have holes where they can enter.
3. Retouch The Paint Of Your Home’s Exterior
One way to keep the exterior of your home looking good as new is to freshen up the paint. Applying a new layer of paint can work wonders in keeping your home appealing for years to come. You can even switch to a different color for a new look.
4. Inspect For Mice Near Electrical Wiring
As much as possible, you don’t want to live with mice. Sadly, it can be disastrous once mice start making nests in areas close to electrical wiring, air-conditioning units, or gardening equipment. Regularly check for the signs of mice in your home since it can put your home at risk for electrical faults and fires.
5. Clean The Dryer Vents
If you’re regularly using your dryer, lint steadily builds up in the vents. It simply means the dryer becomes less efficient in cooling down and will take a longer time to dry your clothes. However, it also turns your dryer into a potential fire hazard.
The best way to avoid this is to clean the dryer vents. Take out the vent at the back of your dryer and vacuum the site thoroughly. As an alternative, you can utilize a cleaning kit to keep the area lint-free.
6. Termite Protection
For those who have a wooden home, termites are a significant threat. If you don’t take the proper precautions, your home might have consequential damages, especially if the foundation already shows signs of rot.
It’s important to note termites couldn’t survive under direct exposure to the sun. You’re likely to find them in the basement. It would be best to utilize a spray can of foam to seal any gaps where termites can enter. Then, get a flashlight and screwdriver to check wooden areas for indications of damage. All you have to do is poke or puncture the wood with a screwdriver and assess for weakness. If the wood is rotting or flaking, it requires further inspection by a professional.
7. Replace Batteries In Carbon Monoxide And Smoke Detectors
It’s essential to change the batteries in all detectors in your home at least two times a year. There should be at least one type of detector on every level of your house for safety purposes. If you seem to overlook this task, do it simultaneously when changing your clocks for daylight savings time.
After changing the batteries, don’t forget to hold the test button for 15-20 seconds to hear whether or not the battery is faulty.
8. Check If The Fire Extinguisher Is Functioning Properly
When inspecting the fire extinguisher in your home, you should ensure the following:
- Accessibility of the fire extinguisher
- Intact safety seals
- The pressure gauge is within the normal parameters
- No signs of damage such as leakage, corrosion, or dents
9. Clean The Chimneys At Least Once A Year
If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, you should perform regular maintenance to prevent it from becoming a risk. Remember the buildup of dirt, debris, or other materials in the chimney can quickly start a fire and result in a disastrous fire. Additionally, issues with the chimney can cause the accumulation of smoke or carbon monoxide inside your home. It’s best to employ the services of a professional, which includes an inspection and cleaning if necessary.
10. Lawn Maintenance
The outdoor space requires attention since it’s what people first see. One way to keep your yard looking clean and neat is to trim any excess growth on shrubs and trees regularly. Doing so will make your yard tidy. Also, do not forget to remove any dying or dead branches or leaves.
11. Regularly Clean The Refrigerator Coils
The refrigerator coils can end up with a buildup of dirt, dust, grease, and other debris over time. If you don’t regularly clean the coils, it causes your refrigerator to become inefficient or even a risk hazard.
The coils are responsible for cooling down your refrigerator. Once they are insulated, your appliance must work harder to maintain the correct temperature or end up overheating.
You can clean the coils using a vacuum cleaner. Ensure that you’ll unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall to access the coils. It’s best to use the brush attachment of your vacuum and work through the grime. Utilize a cloth to wipe the coils for any leftover grime.
12. Bleed The Radiators Yearly
The best way to keep your radiator efficient is to bleed it every winter. When bleeding a radiator, it helps release any excess air, and it can get warmer with less power consumption.
If this is your first time to bleed a radiator, all you have to do is release the valve and position a towel underneath to catch drips. Next, you should hear the air as it steadily seeps out. Once the sound stops, you can tighten the valve.
13. Maintain The Gutters
Gutters play a crucial role in protecting the overall integrity of your home. Sadly, most homeowners overlook the necessity of cleaning the gutters. However, regular cleaning of the gutters can help save money on costly replacement and repairs for roof damage.
When the gutters have a blockage, overflow and breakdown are likely to occur and can put significant strain on the roof. In addition, during winter, the gutters can end up with ice that results in thawing damage.
Start cleaning the gutters with specialized tools or do it manually with these steps:
- Wear rubber gloves
- Position the ladder on the side of the house
- Use a small shovel to scoop the debris and dirt in the gutters and dump them onto a tarp
- Flush the gutters out with a hose
14. Secure Leaky Windows And Doors
When you have windows and doors facing outwards, they are susceptible to damage from the weather. Over time, the seals around the frames will eventually rot. If this happens, the heating in your home becomes inefficient.
The best way to find leaks is to check for damaged caulk and weatherstripping. In addition, you can utilize an incense stick or a piece of toilet paper to see leaks around the window and door frames.
15. Clean The Hood Filter Of Your Range
Over time, the hood filters can end up with blockage due to thick grease. The filters are responsible for trapping oil. When the filters in your range are working correctly, expect a significant buildup of grease.
Remember that you’ll need an agent to break down the grease effectively. Prepare a basin with boiling water and add dish soap and baking soda. Stir the mixture thoroughly and submerge the filter for 10 minutes. After a while, scrub the filter and allow it to dry.
When you regularly clean the hood filter, your range can extract steam and grease more efficiently. As a result, it can significantly help save money for a possible replacement job.
16. Run Water Through Your Fixtures
When you have a bathroom you don’t use often, grime is likely to build up in the faucets and pipes. Therefore, you should run water through them at least four times throughout the year. The purpose is to keep the flow running and lessen potential clogs.
17. Inspect The Air Filters At Least Once Every Month
One way to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system is to inspect the filters at least once every month. Doing so can help reduce your monthly utility bills. Additionally, if you live in an area with poor air quality or pollution, make it a priority to keep the filters clean to stay safe.
18. A Complete Tune-up Of Your HVAC
If you want to ensure the comfort of your home at the best level, making sure that your HVAC is in good shape is a priority. It’s possible with an HVAC tune-up once in a year. However, the best approach is to schedule the task yearly or put your unit at risk for a potential breakdown, especially during the summer months.
19. Keep Your Garbage Disposal Efficient
The garbage disposal receives a variety of junk. With this in mind, it’s best to provide it with regular care. After using the garbage disposal, run the machine with cold water and dish soap inside. The cold water will aid in solidifying any grease so it can turn into smaller pieces before reaching the trap.
Besides regular maintenance, toss an orange or lemon into the garbage disposal at least once or twice a month. The citric acid from lemon or orange will break down any accumulation of grease and get rid of the undesirable odor. If your concern is the foul odor, pour four tablespoons of Borax down the drain and rinse with hot water.
20. Cabinet Knobs And Handles
When you have loose knobs or handles on cabinets, you should fix them right away. In most instances, it simply requires using a screwdriver on the opposite side of the knob to secure it in place. Make sure you’ll firmly hold the handle to prevent it from spinning.
21. Top Up Your Water Softener
If you have a water softener, it requires minimal care. One way to keep it in good condition is to top it with good-quality salt. During warm weather or warm inside, the water softener is likely to develop salt bridges. It forms when a layer of salt solidifies within the machine. Of course, it’s best to use good-quality salt to avoid the issue from occurring in the future, but if it’s a current issue, all you have to do is break up the salt layer with an object you can poke into the tank.
22. Check The Boiler For Signs Of Damage And The Correct Pressure
The boiler in your home is prone to wear. Therefore, as part of maintenance, inspect the boiler every year. Closely check for any cracks or holes and even water leakage. Additionally, the pressure must be within the expected parameters. Finally, a handy hack is running the boiler a once each month, even during summer so that it stays efficient.
23. Inspect The Toilet Cistern For Leaks
Leaks can result in skyrocketing utility bills, and in most cases, the toilet is to blame. One way to find a leak is to add a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Then, after a short while, check the bowl. If there is discoloration, it’s a clear indication of leakage, and you need to replace the flapper.
Conclusion
Keeping your home clean and in good shape for years to come must be a priority for every homeowner out there. Your house must be a safe and comfortable space for everyone. With the help of these maintenance tips you should regularly perform, it can make your home clean, functional, and inviting space for years to come.