7 Things to Do for a Trouble-Free Home

After buying a new home, what follows are routine maintenance and repairs that should be carried out all year round. While this is a daunting task, a systematic and well-organized plan of action for repairs and maintenance will make this task way easier and save you a great deal of time.

Houses, just like most things, are prone to atrophy and if some issues are not taken care of early, the same issues may grow worse and become difficult and costly to repair. A routine schedule of home maintenance and repairs if keenly followed will prevent a lot of problems that may prove expensive to repair in the long run. These preventive measures range from keeping your house moisture free to preparing for emergencies effectively. This article provides a comprehensive checklist of what needs to be done to ensure a trouble-free household.

Prevention from Moisture

It is very important to keep moisture away from your house for a variety of reasons including to prevent slabs from cracking, to avoid a termite infestation, and also to prevent the growth of mold on your way. Moisture prevention is achieved by:

1. Checking for roof leaks in the attic twice a year. This will prevent any rain water from destroying the ceiling and walls. In case of any leakage, contact a roof waterproofing and roof leakage repair contractor to make swift repairs.
2. Installing gutters on the sides of the roof to divert rainwater to the drains. This will prevent soaking of the foundation and will keep the slab from cracking
3. Remove leaves that have settled on the gutters especially gutters made from wood. This action will prevent wood rot and rusting of metal gutters.
4. Open your bathroom window to prevent condensation from building up. Too much condensation will encourage the growth of moss and mildew.
5. Unclog clogged gutters using a hosepipe to remove any debris. If that doesn’t work then use a plumber’s snake to get the job done.
6. Ensure your sprinklers don’t reach the porch to prevent the build-up of wood rot that may attract damp wood termites.

Preparing for Emergencies

Mishaps around your household are inevitable no matter how safe you make the place in case of any sudden occurrence. The location of the following controls should be known.

1. Water shutoff
2. Main breaker box
3. Main shutoff for heating fuel

Ensure your home is fitted with a fire extinguisher around the kitchen and dwelling area. Always have a wrench nearby for critical shutoff valves.

Checklist for Weekly Maintenance

Your weekly routine for home maintenance should entail.

1. Vacuuming the carpet at least once every week. Consider using a powerful vacuum cleaner for the best results.
2. Make sure the basement window wells are clean of debris, leaves and small twigs.
3. Clear any dirt and debris around your house.

Checklist for Monthly Maintenance

Monthly home maintenance involves several tasks that can be spread out throughout the month. These include.

1. Maintaining unused drains by pouring water through the ducts. For pipes that are in use pour boiling water in the drains with about a cup of baking soda or vinegar to clear any scum or scale that may build up in the drains.
2. Checking the bottom of the dishwasher for any leaks.
3. Vacuuming vents, cleaning refrigerator coils and air conditioners.
4. Cleaning showerheads and faucet aerators. Use vinegar to dissolve any mineral deposit that may accumulate on the showerheads and faucet aerators.

Maintaining Your Home During Spring

Spring can be a very trying time for many homeowners, try doing the following to keep your house in tip-top shape.

1. Replacing your air conditioning filter
2. Cleaning around the air conditioner compressor. Making sure to wipe off any dust or dirt accumulated over the entire period.
3. Any trees and shrubs near the house should be trimmed neatly.
4. Have a licensed professional inspect your air conditioner and make repairs if necessary.
5. Plug any holes in the exterior of the house and repair any screens to prevent flying insects from entering the house.
6. Scrape off any mildew on the exterior of your house and treat the decks of your house with anti-fungal to prevent the build-up of mildew.
7. Replace the batteries of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors>

Maintaining the Home During Fall

Just like spring, fall is not too kind to homeowners too. Here are a few things to do maintain your house.

1. Check your storm window for any repairs. Seal any holes in case you stumble on one or two.
2. Replace your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries
3. If you have a fireplace that uses wood, have it cleaned and make any necessary repairs to avoid dangerous fires from the chimney and carbon monoxide poisoning,
4. If you own a water heating system, spring is a great time to check the water pressure, completely drain the tank and bleed the radiators.

Annual Home Maintenance

There are repairs that should be carried out once every year. These repairs include.

1. Getting an exterior paint touch up
2. Sealing any cracks in the concrete
3. Get your carpet cleaned by professional services
4. Inspect the septic tank and have it cleaned thoroughly.
5. Get your chimney cleaned professionally. If you don’t use your chimney that much, you can clean it once in two years.
6. Checking the expiry date as well as the pressure of fire extinguishers
7. Draining your water heater and checking the pressure valve.
8. Contact the pest exterminator and have them go over your house checking for any pest infestation and eliminate any pests or prevent any future infestation.
9. Inspect the dryer vent and your hose or any build-up of lint and clean them to prevent from any accidental fires.
10. Wax the marble countertops for that sparkling look.

Home maintenance is crucial to keep your home out of trouble and make it sturdy for years on end. This simple checklist, if followed keenly will guarantee a clean and structurally sound home with great resale value and a safe and comfortable living space for you and your family.

If the need arises, contact licensed professionals to assist in your various maintenance and repair operations. Maintain an annual contract with pest exterminators to ensure check and control an influx of pests in your house. These simple checks are enough to keep your home trouble free for a very long time.