Owning a home can be very expensive. The expensiveness that I am referring to is in addition to your mortgage and home insurance payments. Some homeowners, depending on the size of their homes, may spend thousands of dollars a year, simply in updating and in home maintenance. Home maintenance costs are necessary in reducing the costs of necessary repairs. The more that parts of the home are maintained, the less they are likely to require expensive repairs. The following maintenance should be regularly completed in a home.
Biannual HVAC unit inspections.
The HVAC unit is one of the most expensive parts of the home. It is also crucial, not only in keeping the comfort of the home, but in protecting different parts of the house. For example, the piping of a home can freeze and cause disastrous flooding damage to the home, if it is not properly heated during the cold, winter months.
Your home?s AC unit should be inspected by a professional HVAC service person, at the end of fall and beginning of spring. Your home?s furnace should be inspected at the end of summer. Some HVAC experts say up to 75% of no heat calls in the winter are related to lack of home maintenance. Left unserviced, a furnace can stop working suddenly, leaving your family out in the cold.
Plumbing inspections and clean outs.
Anyone who has ever had plumbing problems with their home knows how expensive and inconvenient it can be. Plumbing problems can be some of the most expensive repairs that a home needs. A commercial plumber should be called for, minimally, an annual plumbing inspection.
The plumber will snake the drains, and will make sure that no backups are currently beginning. Once the plumbing pipes become completely backed up, it can back up into the home, causing water, and potentially, mold damages. They can also identify any leaks, before they become a bigger problem. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save the homeowners about 10% on their water bills.
Home foundation inspections.
The plumber will snake the drains, and will make sure that no backups are currently beginning. Once the plumbing pipes become completely backed up, it can back up into the home, causing water, and potentially, mold damages. They can also identify any leaks, before they become a bigger problem. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save the homeowners about 10% on their water bills.
Home foundation inspections.
Unlike the other inspections, a homeowner is not required to call a home foundation specialist for yearly foundation checks. However, the foundation should be watched and inspected by the homeowner, at least once a year. Some cracks in the cement and foundation is normal, as it settles. Homeowners should look out for large cracks, and movements in the walls and ceilings. Over time, this can cause problems with the home, causing it to shift and the structures to break or bend. Home maintenance repairs should include regular inspections and monitoring of the cracks in the walls, ceilings, and exterior of the home.
Exterior landscaping inspections.
An overabundance of pests can cause many problems with a home. A yard can be a breeding ground for insects and other rodents. Some of these insects can ruin the ground and attract further insects. If the insects make their way into the home, they can eat into the walls, the electrical wirings, and cause many home maintenance problems. Homeowners can check for pest problems by keeping an eye on the types of insects in the yard. They can also check areas like the garage and the basement for any rodent droppings, indicating that there is a rodent problem.
Window and door insulation inspections.
Windows and doors are created for insulation and security in the home. If they are not working properly, they do not fully do their job. Windows and doors should be checked for cracks or any areas where cold air is leaking through. Heating and cooling accounts for about 48% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. This home maintenance step can ensure that the air conditioning is working properly, and that air is not being lose through the doors or windows.
Homes require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Without regular home maintenance, a homeowner is likely to experience more problems with the home. Upkeep can save the homeowner money over the long run, by preventing more costly of repairs from being needed. Most home maintenance inspections should be completed, minimally, once per year.