Forgetting to do home maintenance can lead to high utility bills or cost you a ton of money to address down the road. Years of neglect can lead to bigger problems and higher costs down the road. But what kinds of home maintenance should you be doing? Our friends at 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty have some tips you can use to reduce the cost of home ownership.
1. Inspect your roof
Your roof takes a beating protecting you and your home from moisture, leaks and the elements. Your roof can also cost a fortune to repair. The best way to avoid expensive repairs is to inspect your roof twice a year when you clean out your gutters.
When you inspect your roof, look for these problems.
- Cracked or missing shingles. Replacing a few damaged shingles is much less expensive than replacing your whole roof or addressing the water damage they might cause.
- Moss on shingles. Do you see moss growing on the shingles? This can lead to dry rot or rust, which can cause catastrophic damage to your roof’s structural integrity. Fortunately, you can gently scrub moss off with a soft-bristle scrub brush yourself.
- Excessive black grit in your gutters. If you notice excessive amounts of black grit in your gutters, you may need to replace your shingles.
2-10 offers optional roof leak coverage that can help you address roof leaks caused by normal wear and tear. But doing this piece of home maintenance can go a long way in protecting your roof.
2. Clean your dryer vent
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are almost 17,000 reported dryer fires every year, and unclean dryer vents cause 34% of these fires. Unclean dryer vents are a fire hazard that can cost you money, your house or even your life. A clogged dryer duct can also make your dryer inefficient or prevent it from drying your clothes.
If you smell a bad odor coming from your dryer or your clothes are taking much longer to dry, check the vent. It’s fairly easy to clean your dryer vent.
- Unplug the dryer.
- Move it away from the wall if necessary.
- Remove the vent from the back of your dryer.
- Remove excess lint and check for pests.
- Use a vacuum to clean out any debris.
- Reconnect the vent, move the dryer back and plug it in.
Consider cleaning your dryer vent once a year. It’s an easy home maintenance project that can save your life.
3. Clean refrigerator condenser coils
Your refrigerator’s condenser coils keep the inside of your fridge cold. Clogged condenser coils work less efficiently. This means your fridge will use more energy to stay cool, shortening its life span and driving up your energy costs.
You can clean your refrigerator condenser coils with a brush and a vacuum. Look for cobwebs, pet hair and other debris especially. You may need a brush with a longer or bent handle to clean thoroughly, depending on where the condenser coils lie. Check your owners manual for details.
4. Drain sediment from your water heater
If your water heater has a tank, you should drain it once a year. Sediment collects at the bottom of your water heater tank, creating hot spots that can damage the tank and shorten its life span. When draining your water heater tank, make sure to cut off the electricity and cold-water supply to the water tank.
5. Clean window weep holes
Window weep holes are openings at the bottom of metal or vinyl window frames. They keep water out of your window tracks and prevent rotting. When dirt or debris clog window weep holes, moisture can enter your home.
You can test your window weep holes by spraying water outside the window. If you don’t see clean water exiting the weep hole, use compressed air to clean it out.
Home maintenance can help you save money
These home maintenance tips can help make home ownership more affordable. Another way is to purchase a home warranty. Homes listed for sale with us are eligible to receive no obligation home warranty coverage the first six months the property is listed for sale. We are proud to work with two of the nation’s leading home warranty providers, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty and American Home Shield.
www.bhhsnw.com
Article brought to you by our friends at 210 Home Buyers Warranty.
