For many, owning a home is a dream come true, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges. Keeping up with home maintenance can be tiring and expensive, but experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing certain tasks. Whether you have the skills to DIY or need to hire professionals, here are some mistakes to avoid as advised by experts.
1. Don’t Overlook Clogged Gutters: Neglecting gutter maintenance can lead to serious issues like water damage, erosion, and cracks in the foundation. Regular cleaning, especially after the majority of leaves have fallen, is crucial to prevent basement flooding and costly repairs.
2. Be Cautious with Pressure Washers: While pressure washers may seem like a quick fix for cleaning, they can actually cause damage to your home’s exterior. Using a regular garden hose is often a safer option to avoid stripping paint or loosening shingles. If you must use a pressure washer, be careful and maintain a 40-degree angle to prevent damage.
3. Address Dryer Vent Maintenance: Lint buildup in dryer vents is a fire hazard that many overlook. If your clothes are taking longer to dry than usual, it may be a sign of a clogged vent. Consider cleaning the vent at least once a year, or more frequently for households with heavy laundry loads.
4. Manage Tree Growth: While mature trees can enhance your property, they also pose risks if not properly maintained. Overgrown branches can damage roofs, windows, and provide easy access for pests like rodents. Regularly inspect and trim trees to prevent potential hazards to your home.
By being proactive and addressing these common maintenance pitfalls, you can safeguard your home and avoid costly repairs in the long run.
5. Using Chemicals to Clear Drains
When dealing with a stubborn clog in your sink or shower drain, it may be tempting to reach for products like Drano. However, plumbers advise caution when using chemical cleaners. Stephany Smith, a plumbing engineer at MyPlumber in the U.K., warns that these products can worsen the situation by pushing the clog further down the pipeline, leading to more stubborn obstructions. Instead, consider using a drain snake to physically remove the blockage.
6. Ignoring Your Water Shut-Off Valves
Many homeowners overlook the importance of the water shut-off valves under sinks or behind toilets. These valves play a crucial role in cutting off the water supply during emergencies or maintenance. Smith recommends cleaning the valves regularly with a mixture of soap and water to prevent potential water damage. Additionally, turning the valves on and off every six months can help prevent them from getting stuck, with replacement suggested every five years.
7. Skipping HVAC Inspections
Regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems is essential for their optimal performance. Brandi Andrews from National Air Warehouse emphasizes the importance of filter changes, keeping units clean, and scheduling annual checkups by professionals. Neglecting HVAC upkeep can lead to decreased efficiency or total system failure, making regular maintenance a yearly priority.
8. Using the Wrong Cleaners
Be mindful that not all cleaners are suitable for every surface. Cristina Miguelez from Fixr cautions against using vinegar and bleach on certain materials. Bleach can cause discoloration on metal finishes, while vinegar’s acidity can damage stone surfaces or metal finishes. To prevent damage, opt for commercial cleaners designed for specific surfaces.
9. Taking Your Appliances For Granted
Appliances play a vital role in our daily lives, but they require regular maintenance to ensure longevity and efficiency. Romana King, director of content at Zolo, highlights the importance of cleaning dishwashers every two to three months to prevent buildup of food residue, soap, and grease. By taking care of your appliances, you can extend their lifespan and reduce the need for costly repairs.
Cusick from House Method advises keeping the areas under and around your appliances clean to prevent mold and dust buildup. It’s important to give your kitchen a deep clean once or twice a year to avoid unpleasant surprises. Ignoring your outdoor hoses during winter can lead to burst pipes and water damage. Eugene Sokol of Plasticine House recommends draining and removing outdoor hoses before winter to prevent costly repairs. Similarly, make sure your sprinkler system is clear of water before freezing temperatures hit to avoid springtime repairs.
Wesley Wheeler from Bug Lord suggests taking steps to block pest entry points around your home to keep insects and rodents out. Simple measures like fixing holes in window screens and sealing cracks and holes can help keep pests at bay while also improving energy efficiency. When cleaning windows, don’t forget to clean the screens as well to prevent dirt and debris from causing spots on the glass after rain.
Adding insulation to your attic can help lower heating and cooling bills, but be cautious not to cover soffit vents. Soffits provide crucial airflow in and out of the attic to prevent moisture damage. Avoid covering soffits with insulation to ensure proper ventilation and prevent issues like water damage.
The repair costs exceeded $10,000 as various issues were addressed, including mold and mildew growth on ceilings and walls, sagging ceiling drywall, and the side surface of windows.
One easy way to maintain a dry and clean bathroom is to run the bathroom fan daily, even if building codes do not require it for bathrooms with windows. Proper ventilation is essential to prevent moisture issues like mold, so make sure the fan is turned on before and after showering.
To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, avoid having standing water on your property. Ensure water features are moving or oxygenated with a small pump, and regularly check for and eliminate any sources of standing water, such as clogged gutters or containers holding rainwater.
Regular inspection of sump pumps is crucial to prevent flooding in the basement. Check the pump every six months, including the battery backups and water-level alarms, to ensure they are working correctly and prevent potential clogs.
Prioritize completing one home improvement project at a time to avoid spreading yourself too thin. Replace ambition with discipline and focus on finishing one project thoroughly rather than juggling multiple projects simultaneously.
Lastly, write down tasks and maintenance schedules to keep track of home-related responsibilities, as relying on memory can lead to forgetting important tasks. Use tools like HomeZada to help organize and manage household chores effectively.
Number ten. This ends up costing you money in the long run with more expensive repair costs and higher utility bills,” Bodrozic recommends building a home maintenance calendar with automatic reminders, personalizing it with your home’s unique needs. “It only takes a little time upfront to personalize your schedule, and then you are set.” Kurhan/istockphoto. Number nineteen. Using the Wrong Tools for the Job. Even if a particular project is well within your scope of expertise, you’ll need the right tools to tackle the job. “It can be very tempting to wedge that butter knife into the groove of the screws you are trying to put in,” says Marty Basher, home improvement specialist with Modular Closets. “However, it is much better to just get a flathead screwdriver. It is the right tool for the job, and will be infinitely more efficient and easy to use. Never try to rig the wrong tool into the being the right tool. Doing this can cause all kinds of complications and will definitely be a safety hazard. Make a list of the tools you need, get them, and know how to use them.” Vladimir Vladimirov/istockphoto. Number twenty. Trying to Do It All Yourself. We all want to save money, but overconfidence can end up costing more — a lot more — in the long run. “Between knowledgeable neighbors and YouTube videos, there’s no lack of help these days in figuring out how to tackle simple repairs,” says Richard Reina, product training director at TOOLSiD.com. “However, a homeowner can get into trouble if they try to take on too much. You need to be honest with yourself regarding your own abilities.” Basher warns homeowners against tackling plumbing and electrical problems in particular. “The worst mistakes DIYers can make often happen when they try to fix things under flooring and behind walls. A regular homeowner can not tell if wires are faulty, if pipes are placed improperly, or if something is up to code. This means that not only do these homeowners run the risk of fires and flooding, but also fines from the city they live in. On top of that, all of these problems can cost several thousand dollars to fix.” For more smart home-care tips, please sign up for our free newsletters. This article was originally published on Cheapismsturti/istockphoto. More From Cheapism. 21 Ways to Reduce Your Monthly Bills When Money Is Tight. U.S. Presidents’ Net Worth, Before and After Taking Office. These Are the 7 Cheapest Fast-Food Joints To Try Right Now. Cheap, Easy, Healthy: 9 Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Foods at Costco. Joann Fabrics Closing 500 Stores Nationwide in Bankruptcy — Here’s the Complete List.
