This is the second of two installments of creating an efficient home maintenance schedule. Check out the first post here.
As a homeowner, you can prevent a large majority of tomorrow’s problems by maintaining your home today. Regular home maintenance can boost your property value, reduce stress, and reduce the amount of money you spend on minor and major home repairs. If this is your first time owning a home, or you recognize that you need to start new good home maintenance habits, it’s time to learn what you must maintain, and how often each type of maintenance is required. Here is your basic guide to preparing a home maintenance calendar so that you can create a detailed chart to follow.
Scheduling preventive maintenance checks: what to schedule every six months
You can breathe easy with maintenance that is only required twice per year. These checks, because you do not do them as often, are easy to forget. Take a red pen and be sure that you select a day once every six months to check the following:
• Sealing your tile grout
Moisture becomes a serious problem in most homes. The only way to prevent the moisture from accumulating under tile is to seal the grout. Prevent mold and mildew growth by sealing once every six months and you can prevent moisture from sitting in areas that will not dry out.
• Cleaning A/C coils
Dirt and dust will settle on the condenser coils of your A/C, and this dust prevents your unit from cooling down the air. Be sure to clean the dust that is sitting on the coils and grills of your unit to extend the life of your A/C.
• Your washer and dryer
You should check hoses for leaks, replace the hoses, and clean the lint from the ducts of your dryer. These small efforts can make a huge difference toward preventing a flood or a dryer breakdown.
Annual maintenance all around the home
Once per year you should deep clean different areas around your home. Here are maintenance checks to schedule once per year in the right season:
• Roof: Inspect the flashing and eaves for damage during the fall
• Windows and screens: Clean windows and screens, tighten damaged frames, and tighten loose hardware every spring.
• Lawn aeration: In the Spring, you must take time to aerate the lawn to ensure the grass is as healthy as possible before summer comes.
• Professional A/C tune-ups: Schedule a tune-up appointment with an HVAC specialist to improve efficiency and lower electric bills.
It sounds like a lot of work, but when you own a home it is all about caring for it properly. No matter how old or how new your home is, you need to maintain it. Neglect leads to expensive bills you simply could have avoided. Take on the role as a homeowner and the time you spend will save you a small fortune long term.
If simple preventive maintenance isn’t enough to keep your home in check, consider a home warranty from American Home Shield. Protection for your appliances and important home operations will likely pay for itself in time and hassle saved.
Post Author: andyc.
