Settling into your new home comes with an overwhelmingly large to-do list. This makes it easy to forget some crucial home maintenance step. Then, by the time you discover your mistake, it’s because some appliance in your house breaks down.
Fortunately, we’re going to help you avoid this grim fate by sharing with you the following home maintenance tips. These are the essential tips every new homeowner needs to know.
Best of all, it’s a short list that will take you no more than 5 minutes to read. To make sure you don’t miss a step, read and obey this checklist.
1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans Each Summer and Winter
Most ceiling fans have a switch that changes the direction of the rotation. Why is that? It’s because one direction is for summer (counterclockwise) and one is for winter (clockwise).
That’s right, you are supposed to use your ceiling fan in winter. Spinning your fan in the correct direction each season helps to warm and cool your home. And it does so using less energy than it takes to run your HVAC all the time.
2. HVAC Maintenance
Speaking of your HVAC, change your air filter every 3 months or sooner. if you don’t it clogs the system, ruins its efficiency, and breaks your HVAC faster.
Also, use a programmable thermostat so your HVAC runs efficiently instead of constantly. And get professional maintenance before each heating and cooling season.
3. Roof and Gutter Maintenance
Regular roofing & leak repair/maintenance is essential for keeping your roof healthy. A small leak now will soon grow huge, expanding and contracting with changes in temperature.
If you know of any leaks, have them repaired immediately. Also, you must have a professional inspect your roof once every year.
The same is true of your gutters. If you’re aware of overflowing/leaky gutters, call them in. And, every once in a while, put on a glove and scoop the gunk out of the gutters yourself so they won’t get clogged.
4. Use a Plunger
It might sound silly to freak out over a simple clog. But a clogged drain can cause pressure to build up in the sewer/septic tank. Then, not long after, raw sewage will begin backing up into your bathtub and onto your floors.
Therefore, always call in any plumbing problems you can’t fix yourself. Those you can fix yourself include unclogging toilets with a plunger and unclogging sink drains with a simple, plastic drain snake.
5. Get an Energy Audit
We can go on and on about how to use appliances correctly and install energy-efficient lightbulbs to conserve energy. But it’s far better to call your electric company and get a free energy audit.
This way, a professional will point out exactly what you should do to make your house more energy-efficient. They might even offer you free supplies with which to do this, like energy-saving LED lights.
Prevent Disaster With These Home Maintenance Tips
Home maintenance doesn’t get any simpler than we’ve just made it. Just remember to do your part. Keep this list handy and follow these home maintenance tips to avoid disaster.
Want some more home maintenance tips? We’ve got what you need! For specific maintenance advice, browse the categories on the menu bar at the top of this page.
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