Home Protection Series Part 2: Protect Your Home From Neglect
Proper care ensures your home and the systems in your home will perform for years to come. Protecting your home from neglect is a key component of home maintenance!
There are a lot of things you can do on a regular basis that are good for your home. Then there are things you MUST do on a regular basis for your home in order to prevent issues in the future. Because the thing about homeowner maintenance is that you can’t get away from it. If you neglect your home, it will come back to bite you. It’s only a matter of when. And how.
So what should you be doing on a regular basis to care for your home? This is not a comprehensive list but here are 4 important areas of maintenance to keep an eye on.
Care for your HVAC System
There are two things you can do to extend the life of your HVAC System and help it run as efficiently as possible. The first is change the air filters on a regular basis. The pros say to do this EVERY month (especially during AC season). The second is to have the system serviced twice a year. You can engage a local HVAC company to conduct this service for you under a service contract. These contracts are reasonably priced and can save you money in the long run.
Caulking (actually, re-caulking)
Check the areas of your home that are caulked (tubs, tile, faucets, etc.) and look for cracked or missing caulk. As your home heats and cools, caulk can crack which breaks the water tight seal. A tub that isn’t properly caulked can cause water damage. This damage can start out small but it will continue to grow.
Clean Your Gutters
Clogged gutters can wreak havoc on the exterior and the interior of your home. As water builds up in a clogged gutter, it can damage the actual gutter because the weight of the clogged water and debris can cause the gutters to loosen from their attachments. A clogged gutter can also cause water leaks inside your home. Gutters are meant to contain water and get it away from the house. If the water has no where to go, it will find its way inside your home – not good. So have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year (especially after the leaves fall!).
Winterize Your Home
You should also make sure you are taking the proper precautions before winter hits. I wrote all about protecting your home from cold weather that is a good starting point!
What do you do to protect your home from neglect?
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