We understand. Working on home maintenance tasks is not how you want to spend your days off or how you want to spend your money. But just like an annual doctor’s appointment, regular dental checkups, and car tune ups, ensuring you participate in preventative maintenance projects for your home can help save you big headaches and even more money in the future. Below we have created a check list of small home maintenance tips that will help keep costs low and headaches at bay.
In most cases you will find cleaning the gutters at the top of most home maintenance lists. This is because ignoring this basic chore could lead to a mountain of problems later and thousands of dollars in repairs. Clogged gutters can not only keep water from draining but lead to roof damage and leaks which can turn into ceiling/wall damage, mold, and much more. To keep these problems away clean your gutters at least twice a year (usually Spring and Fall). In addition, it is also a great idea to check on your gutters after heavy rain falls, hail, or tornados as things could have been damaged or shifted during the storm. If you lack the time or inclination to get dirty, scheduling a gutter cleaning service is easy. On average, cleaning your gutters can range between $125-$350 depending on the size of your home. You can clean the gutters yourself, but it can be dangerous work if you can’t easily reach your gutters with a standard 6’ ladder.
Getting regular HVAC tune ups helps avoid costly breakdowns during a heat wave or cold freeze. Besides keeping you perfectly cool or pleasantly warm, regular tune ups help to avoid repair delays, save you from paying top dollar for emergency repairs, reduce energy costs and extend the life of the equipment.
It is important to make sure your tune-up will cover:
If your budget won’t cover the tune up cost, there are two things you can do yourself: change the filter regularly and flush the drain lines. Having clogged HVAC lines can lead to leaks, ceiling damage and much more. It is also important to ensure hazardous gas such as carbon monoxide gas is not leaking from the furnace’s heat exchanger.
If you clean your gutters twice each year, you have already taken the first step to prevent roof damage. Since repairing and replacing your roof can cost from $5,000 to $20,000 on average, taking all the steps you can to add years to your roof’s life is essential. Since there are several steps associated with proper roof check-ups, we have created a short checklist below to help you keep track of which tasks you have completed and which you still need to do.
Roof Checkup Checklist:
Untrimmed trees can not only lead to property damage or personal injury but can significantly shorten tree life. Trees with dead branches can become hazardous in the case of storms or fires. To ensure your home is safe, regular tree pruning is required. In most cases, you will need to hire a professional to do this work.
Have you seen garages so full, the cars sit in the driveway year-round? Decluttering your garage not only helps to protect your vehicles from Mother Nature, it will help you protect your other belongings crammed into every nook and cranny. An organized garage means you can find the things you need when you need them. It also means you may not be providing as many hiding places for insects and rodents. A clean garage is a safe garage – remember to keep paints and combustible liquids off the floor and on well-vented shelves.
To help you save time and money in the future we have provided a home maintenance checklist for each season. Feel free to revisit the list monthly or at the beginning of each season to keep your home in tip-top shape.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist:
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist:
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist:
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist: