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Every homeowner’s biggest headache is keeping their house in shape, as house maintenance never ends. To make things easier, it’s essential to have and adhere to a maintenance routine to ensure that every element is in excellent working condition. However, to eliminate the risk of forgetting some tasks, it’s important you have a home maintenance checklist.
While the effects of forgetting or neglecting some home maintenance tasks might not be noticeable for a while, you might incur costly expenses on repairs down the road when they do. Here is a list of some commonly forgotten home maintenance tasks.
Changing your HVAC filter
The most common cause of defects in air conditioning systems is a dirty filter. Accumulation of dust and debris clogs the air filter and interrupts airflow. As a result, your HVAC system has to overwork, which increases wear and tear and shortens its lifespan. In addition, since the motor has to work harder to pump air, it consumes more electricity leading to an increase in your energy bills. Every month, remove your filter and hold it against a source of light. If it’s opaque, you need to purchase a new one.
Trees and shrubs pruning
Many homeowners forget to prune trees and shrubs until a branch falls on the driveway or damages their roof. Regularly pruning your trees eliminates the risk of storm damage to your property from broken branches. In addition, pruning helps to improve your curb appeal, control pests, and nurture your tree’s health. Be sure to contact a tree logging company for pruning services and removing dead trees or trees that are hazardous.
Maintaining your chimney
Depending on how much you use your fireplace, you need to inspect and clean your chimney once or twice yearly. Cleaning involves removing debris and creosote, a by-product of burned wood. Eliminating creosote is vital because it’s flammable and poses a fire risk. Debris reduces the efficiency of your fireplace by disrupting airflow. Some of the signs of a clogged chimney include poorly burning fires, too much smoke, blackening of the fire damper, and wood odors when the fireplace is idle.
Checking for water leaks
Like fire, uncontrolled water can cause significant damage to your home. You can prevent water-related damage to your property by conducting regular inspections for water leaks. When doing this, evaluate the entire piping and not just the bathroom and kitchen.
The most obvious indicators of a water leak are water stains, discolored pipes, and joints. It’s also wise to inspect your attic, especially after heavy downpours. If you notice any issues, contact your plumber for immediate repairs.
Cleaning your gutters
When your gutters are dirty, they create a backlog of rainwater that can easily seep through into your house and cause flooding. During winter, the drains might detach from the roof due to the weight of ice.
Additionally, dirty gutters provide a home for insects and rodents. Ensure that you clean your gutters twice yearly, especially if you have many trees next to your house. The best times for cleaning are during spring and fall.
Water heater maintenance
Calcium, iron, magnesium, and sand sediments can accumulate at the base of your water heater. Besides making the unit inefficient, these contaminants can pollute the water. For this reason, it’s important to flush the water heater every two weeks. This keeps the water safe for human consumption.
Endnote
Home maintenance isn’t difficult, but it’s easy to overlook some tasks if you don’t have a checklist. When everything inside your property is in the right condition, you have peace of mind and avoid unplanned repairs. Be sure to take note of these commonly forgotten home maintenance tasks to avoid costly repairs down the road.
