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Frankly, it can be a hassle to properly take care of a home—if only there was a landlord you could call to fix your garbage disposal or tend to your leaks! But, there’s always a price attached to great things, and owning a home comes with a lot of perks.
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To keep your home completely functional and looking wonderful, keeping up on routine maintenance is a must. It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning to sell soon or likely to stay put for a long time to come; there are a few things all homeowners should add to their home care routine.
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Not to worry! Keep reading to learn about some of the most essential home maintenance tips and tricks that will enable you to properly care for your house without sacrificing too much of your time or money.
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Regrout and Recaulk Your Tub, Bathroom Fixtures, and Showers
When your grout or caulking show signs of wear, it’s a good sign that they need touchups or complete replacements. So if you notice any crumbling, peeling, shrinking, or even mildew, then it’s time to get to work.
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Using a bleach solution to clean moldy caulk or grout is a quick fix that will help for some time. However, you should plan on recaulking your commonly moist spaces (like the bathroom) about every five years in order to keep it in the best possible condition.
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Clean Your Gutters
You should do gutter maintenance at least twice every year as the seasons change. Gutters that are overfilled with debris cannot do their job, which can lead to costly water damage. That’s why it’s so crucial that you check and clean your gutters every fall and spring, making sure to clear any muck and seal any leaks. If a gutter needs to be replaced, don’t put it off for too long! Excess water can cause damage to both your siding and your foundation.
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Clean Your Garbage Disposal and Vent Hood
Food and debris easily get stuck in your garbage disposal, especially if you use it on a daily basis. As food begins to decay, it also starts to smell bad. In order to avoid that scenario, you should clean your garbage disposal often, as that’s the only way to fully eliminate any unpleasant aromas. Regular cleaning also keeps your disposal working well.
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Along with that, your vent hood is likely to turn greasy quickly, especially if you cook often. If you do cook very frequently, you should clean your vent hood about once every two weeks to keep it both fully functional and looking nice.
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Change and Clean Filters in Appliances
Filters in your refrigerator, air conditioning unit, and many other household appliances have to be changed often. Otherwise, they simply stop doing their job, and in such cases, you might end up with bad-tasting water, dirty dishes, and a higher electricity bill.
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It can be helpful to have a schedule for when each filter should be changed. For example, you will likely need to change your fridge’s air filter once every six months to a year; however, when it comes to your Brita, you should probably change the filter every one to two months.
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Flush Your Water Heater
It’s recommended that either you or a professional plumber drains your water heater at least once per year. Draining your water heater will flush out any debris or minerals stuck in the system, thus ensuring that it runs more efficiently.
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Inspect the Exterior for Water Damage or Foundation Problems
If you see any signs of water damage, you must address them right away. Not only can water damage deteriorate the home’s look, but it can cause long-lasting problems. Some signs might be worsening gaps between windows or doors, cracks in exterior or interior walls, a leaning chimney, slanting floors, and water intrusion in the basement.
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Wash Your Sliding
To greatly improve your curb appeal, you should clean your home’s siding at least once every year. It’s a good tip to do it in the spring to get off any grub from winter. You can either hire professionals to power wash your siding, or you can rent a power washer yourself and dedicate an afternoon to the project. Be sure to do your research first, as using high pressure incorrectly can damage and crack your siding.
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Change your HVAC Filters and Have It Serviced Regularly
Your HVAC filters should be changed frequently, and along with that, you should make sure that the entire HVAC system is getting serviced at least once per year. That will ensure that it keeps working efficiently and delivering its peak performance.
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Check and Clean Your Dryer Vent
Having a clean dryer vent is crucial, as lint often clogs it up and prevents it from working as it should. This can also be a fire hazard. To keep things running smoothly, you should clean it at least once every few months.
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Make Sure Your House Number is Visible from the Street
The outside of your home may turn dirty quickly, especially if you live in places where it often rains or dust gathers quickly. And while it may be a bit of a stretch to clean the whole exterior of the house, keeping your number visible is vital so that mailpeople, authorities, invited guests, prospective buyers, etc., can recognize your house if needed.
