If house maintenance paralyzes you with fear, you’re not alone. However, it doesn’t matter how old a house it, owners need to care and look after it year-round. Even the smallest things, like leaky faucets or old air filters, can end up causing you both wallet and health problems! So, check out these house maintenance jobs you can do right now that’ll help your bank account later on.
Seal Air Leaks Before Winter Comes
Although the summer heat can make looking for drafts tiring, it’s the best time to do it! Homeowners will want to make sure to fix any air leaks before winter arrives. There are plenty of reasons to seal those leaks before winter; however, two rise above the rest. First, cold air creeping in will result in a higher heating bill. Second, when next summer arrives, the AC won’t be as effective, with the cold air seeping out. Save some serious money on your heating and air bills by fixing those air leaks!
Look For Crawling Critters
Anyone that owns land near any open space can tell you: critters, of all shapes and sizes, can become a problem. Also, speaking of winter, that’s the time that they like to move in. So, instead of waiting until deep winter or even spring to get those stowaways out, do it as soon as it gets cold. Getting them out early not only minimizes the damage, but it also stops the spread of critters. So, you can often take care of it yourself, instead of having to pay an expensive expert bill.
Keep Faucets and Pipes Intact
“Oh, a drop-a-minute leak won’t add anything to my bills,” you say, as many before you have said. Unfortunately, it will. When anything’s leaking, from faucets to pipes to toilets, the numbers only continue to grow if someone does not remedy the situation. Here are some hard facts: a drop-a-minute leak will add up to 34 gallons a year. How many drop-a-minute, or more, leaks do you think you have in your entire home. You’re paying for them all. Checking for leaks and fixing any you find on a Saturday? Well, that’s free.
Get Into The Gutter
Okay, no, not literally. However, gutters should be check and cleaned once or twice a year. The difference is clear: $250 versus $10,000. To clean gutters twice a year, an expert will charge roughly $250, depending on the location. On the other hand, overflowing gutters can break, or worse, damage the home’s roof. That often costs at least $10,000 to fix, if not more.
Take Care Of The HVAC
We’ve already covered how important it is to find and fix leaks, so the AC doesn’t have to work overtime. However, taking care of the HVAC itself is just as important. In fact, a yearly HVAC inspection is one of the most critical repairs a homeowner can schedule. Technicians don’t just check for air leaks; they also check for carbon monoxide leaks. If a carbon monoxide leak goes unattended, it can cost health problems or, worse, death. Furthermore, the filters on your HVAC need to be changed or cleaned (if possible) at least every few months, so you and your family breathe fresh air and not dust. Once again, this will also cut down on heating and air bills, as the HVAC won’t have to work as hard.
Of course, these home maintenance techniques will not only work on your main house, but also guesthouses and vacation homes! To learn about the true costs of owning a vacation home, and want to consider before buying one, head on over to our friends at Bankrate!
Sources: Finance101, MoneyTalksNews