Home Maintenance Tips

It is recommended that you follow the one to four percent rule when it comes to home maintenance. This rule says you should spend between one and four percent of your home’s value each year on maintenance or repairs. The type or repairs you focus on to keep your home well maintained will vary based on the house, age of the house and other factors. Here are some helpful and actionable home maintenance tips to keep your home in the best shape for as long as possible.

Roof
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home that you need to maintain regularly. Regularly check your roof for damages, discolored or gravel-less shingles, wet-areas, missing shingles or anything else that looks out of the ordinary. If you don’t take care of roofing problems as soon as possible, it could result in leaks inside your home. Roof leaks can lead to unwanted moisture and mold in your home and costly repairs. Be sure to pay close attention to areas around your chimneys, vents and skylights as these are the areas of your roof most likely to develop a leak.

Gutters
Gutters are the first line of defense that protects your home’s siding and foundations from the elements. If they are working properly, you don’t even think about them, but if they aren’t properly doing their job, it could result in a flooded basement or crawl space. Regularly clean your gutters and remove any debris to protect your home from pooling water. Gutter guards don’t always do a good job of blocking debris and can make cleaning your gutters more difficult. Also check to see that your gutters are properly attached to the fascia boards and replace any leaking gutters.

Windows
Your windows should open and close with ease, without sticking, skipping or stuttering. If you feel resistance when opening your window, spray a small amount of silicone lubricant on a rag and apply a light coat onto the guides. This trick works well on wood, metal and vinyl windows.

Toilet
A leaky toilet can affect your utility bill, but may also cause water damage to your bathroom. To check your toilet for leaks, add a few drops of food coloring into the tank. It is best to use a bright color, such as red or blue. Leave the dye in the tank for about an hour and then come back and see if there is any color in the toilet bowl. If you see color in the toilet bowl, there is a leak. To repair the leak, your flapper needs to be replaced. This can be done yourself of you can call a local plumber for help.

Walls
You live in your home, therefore at some point your walls will eventually get a few holes in them. This can be a result of hanging up pictures, mirrors or other decorations, careless kids or even curious pets. It’s fairly easy to repair these holes using spackle and then sanding flush with the wall. Next you can apply a fresh coat of paint and the holes are hidden!

HVAC System
Air conditioners, heat pumps and other heating and cooling equipment are the most expensive appliance to repair, but often the most overlooked. It’s beneficial to hire an expert heating and cooling professional to perform routine maintenance on your home comfort systems. This professional would be able to inspect your home’s HVAC system and alert you of any potential equipment issues. A well-maintained HVAC system will far outlast a system that is neglected and allow you to better budget for repairs.