Whether you are a new homeowner or have owned a home for many years, you should know the value of home maintenance. It might seem like a lot of work, but a little care can do a lot to help you protect the value of your home.
As important as it is, many people don’t have a clear idea of what they should be doing to maintain their homes. So many people wait for a problem to arise before they do anything. Many homeowners also don’t know where to look to find problems before they occur.
There are also many home maintenance tasks that you should do once a year. You don’t need to do them all at the same time of year, but you do need to remember them. Many of these annual tasks can do a lot to help you protect your home. This post will cover some of the most important annual home maintenance tasks.
A Deep Cleaning
You should be doing small things to clean your home daily and weekly. However, you can’t get everywhere regularly. That’s why you should do an annual deep cleaning. Most people call it spring cleaning, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be done in spring. It is just something you need to make sure you do once a year.
There are several tasks that should be on your spring-cleaning checklist. For instance, you should move furniture and large appliances to clean under and around them. You might also clean your garage or basement. Cleaning under sinks and above cabinets are other tasks that should be included.
HVAC Inspection and Cleaning
Homeowners should check and possibly change the filter furnace once a month. However, you should also plan for an annual inspection of the HVAC system. Hiring a professional HVAC technician can be a good way to ensure a thorough inspection. They can check all the parts and lines of the system. They also have the equipment to test coolant levels. You might also want them to clean the outdoor part of the air conditioner once a year.
Clean the Gutters
Many homeowners forget about the gutters or ignore them since they are high and out of the way. However, functional gutters do so much to protect your home. It is especially important for protecting your roof.
When asked, a Warren County roofing contractor said, “Your gutters do a lot to protect your roof. If they are backed up, the water can overflow onto the roof and cause damage. Backed-up gutters can also create a risk for ice dams during winter. An annual cleaning and inspection can help you avoid these issues.”
Inspect Walkways and Driveways
Walkways and driveways can start to crack and buckle over time. Water can freeze and cause cracks to expand. The ground can also shift and cause sections to be uneven. However, the earlier you catch these issues, the easier they are to fix. Walk around the property and inspect your driveway and walkways. If you have any patios or a deck, check them out as well.
Check the Siding
Siding does more than make the home look good. It also protects the structure from issues like water damage. While siding is relatively tough, it can get damaged. There is an especially high risk of damage during major storms. However, there are ways to repair siding, and you can even replace sections if they are damaged.
Beyond inspecting siding for damage, an annual cleaning can also do a lot for your siding. A lot of dirt can grime can accumulate over a year. You can clean your siding quickly with a pressure washer. You could also hire a service to pressure wash the siding. While they are at it, you could have them clean outdoor furniture and walkways and driveways.
Service Large Appliances
You should also give your large appliances a little attention once a year. For example, you should clean the coils on your refrigerator annually. Homeowners should also service the washing machine, clothes dryer, and dishwasher at least once a year. It is also a good time to perform basic water heater maintenance. A little care can extend the operating lives of these appliances and make them more efficient.
Roof Inspection
Homeowners should also perform an annual roof inspection. Small issues with your roof can cause big problems over time. Stand back from the house and use binoculars to look for issues like cracked or missing shingles. You might also want to get up there to look at the flashing around vents and chimneys.
Another issue to look for is branches that may be over the roof. If you have any large trees near the house, they could be a risk. If a storm takes a branch down, it could damage the roof. Look at the trees on your property and see if any of them have large branches that could be a problem. If so, hire a service to remove them.
You might be able to do some of this work yourself, but you shouldn’t try to do anything if you do not have the skills or feel uncomfortable doing the work. You wouldn’t want to damage your house or do anything unsafe. There are professionals you can hire to do all of these annual home maintenance tasks.
