If you haven’t taken on the responsibility of home ownership yet, then you might not be aware of all the work required to keep your home up.
You don’t have a landlord to call to fix your problems. You need to handle this yourself now.
It won’t only take your time. It will cost you money too.
You can expect to spend between 1% to 4% of your home’s value annually on maintenance tasks.
If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered in our home maintenance for dummies guide.
Keep reading to learn what those things are.
Springtime
Spring is big for home maintenance. It’s cool enough to get work done outside, so you aren’t scorched by summer. Follow these maintenance tasks to get your home ready.
Inspect Your Drainage
Spring and summer are the time for rain. Make sure your drainage is working correctly.
Puddles shouldn’t stay around your house for more than 24 hours.
Clean Your Air Ducts
One rule of thumb is to clean your air ducts every five years. But this time can decrease based on the type of your home.
An air duct cleaning will remove any built-up grime, mold, and allergens that are in your ducts.
Clean out Your Dryer Vent
Spring is a great time to check and clean out your dryer vent. While you have laundry running, make sure there is exhaust coming out.
If you don’t see much, it could be a sign of blockage.
Clean out Your Garage
We accumulate a lot of stuff during our lives. That’s why we have spring cleaning.
This time is perfect for cleaning out the junk you don’t need anymore. Get it out of the garage, so it’s less of a mess in there.
Summer
Summer is a time for staying cool and for plants to grow. Here are a few of the things you need to take care of during that time.
Trim Trees and Shrubs
If you have shrubs or trees on your property, then you need to make sure they don’t have any dead limbs. Make sure you inspect and remove any you find.
If they are close to your home, you also need to remove anything that grows into your house. This growth can lead to pests and insects getting into your home.
Take Care of Your Deck and Patios
Use the summer to clean your outdoor decks and patios. You can normally get away with a good cleaning, but sometimes you will need to stain them as well.
You can also use this time to look for any damage to your wood that needs to be repaired.
Inspect Your Plumbing
Take some time to inspect all your water pipes in yours. You’re looking for any leaks that could lead to more significant problems.
A sign of poor water pressure is also a sign that you need to replace your aerator.
Get the Paint out
If you have an older home, the chances are that it hasn’t had a fresh coat of paint recently. Use this time to look for areas that need a touch-up.
Fall
Fall is a great time to tackle outdoor tasks. It’s cool enough for you to get things done without getting frozen due to the cold. Here are a few jobs for you to handle during the fall.
Seal Cracks in Windows
Before winter comes around, make sure you inspect your windows for cracks. A crack means that your home will have a harder time keeping things warm indoors.
Clean Up Leaves
Autumn leaves sure are beautiful, but they do leave a mess for you to clean up. Make sure you clean them out of your yard and out of your gutters.
If you leave them in your gutters, then you risk your drains becoming clogged. It could lead to calling a professional cleaner.
Inspect Your Roof for Damage
Before winter you should inspect your roof for any cracks or other damage. You can experience heavy snow or rain in winter. If you have too much weight on the roof in problem areas, you could see severe damage.
Get Your Heating Equipment Serviced
If you don’t keep your heating equipment in good shape, you risk it not functioning correctly or leaking carbon dioxide. Make sure you hire a professional to make sure it is fit for the winter.
Winter
You don’t want to spend your winter outside in the cold. Use this time to make sure your home’s interior doesn’t have any problems with it.
Clean Sediment from Showerheads
Head to your bathroom and take off the showerhead. Sediment can form in there and will reduce the lifespan of it and hurt your water pressure.
Check Any Exterior Crawl Space Vents
Look for any crawl space vents on the exterior of your home. If they are open, it can cause any pipes in the crawl space to freeze.
Make sure you close these vents.
Monitor Your Water Heater
Your water heater can’t give you warm water during the winter if it is broken. When you inspect it, look for any leaks of water pressure issues.
Check Basement for Leaks
You might not be able to find leaks in your basement at other times of the year. Spring may not bring enough rain to put the basement in danger.
But during heavy snow, you will have a water source at your front door. A thaw can cause a lot of water to leak into your basement.
Home Maintenance for Dummies: Final Thoughts
Being a homeowner is completely different than renting an apartment or house. You need to take the initiative yourself, so your home doesn’t fall apart.
Our home maintenance for dummies guide will help get you started, so make sure you make a plan to take care of your home.
If you are looking for more tips for keeping your home in shape, head over to our blog to find more articles. We have enough guides to keep you busy for a while.
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