Maybe you just bought a home? Perhaps you’re thinking about buying a home but want to make sure that you’re making the right decision? Whatever the case may be, you’re looking for a little information on home maintenance.
Fortunately, we can provide it to you. Below, we’re going to discuss seven house maintenance problems that every homeowner eventually has to deal with.
1. Messy Gutters
Your home’s gutters are central to its drainage system. If your gutters fail to function, your roof can suffer substantial water damage, adversely affecting the structural integrity of your home.
Unfortunately, gutters become messy fairly quickly. What with all of the branches and the leaves and the miscellaneous trash floating around, they can become clogged in just a few month’s time.
As such, you need to clean your gutters every six months or so: once in the fall and once in the spring.
Also, consider professional water damage restoration and repair if cleaning the gutters does not work.
2. Lawn Maintenance
If you own a home, you likely also own a lawn. If you own a lawn, you have to perform regular maintenance on that lawn. After all, grass, weeds, flowers, and trees don’t exactly stop growing.
Not only are you going to need to mow your lawn on a regular basis, but you’re also going to have to periodically pull weeds, trim branches, and prune flowers. Depending on where you live, you might even be legally required to do these things.
Be aware, landscaping costs can run you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars every year. Even if you do it yourself, you’re going to shell out a decent amount of money to make it happen (lawnmower costs, weed-whacker costs, gasoline, etc.).
3. Plumbing Clogs
Odds are, at some point, your plumbing system will experience a clog. This is just the simple reality of plumbing. Solid objects (like hair or toothbrushes or caps or otherwise) are forced into the pipes, impairing their usage and restricting the flow of water.
The good news is that most clogs are fairly easy to repair. In most cases, you can eliminate them with a bit of liquid drain cleaner. On rare occasions, you might need to snake the clog out.
It’s only on very rare occasions that clogs require the help of a plumber. Severe clogs such as these generally only arise every five years or so.
If you’re dealing with one of these clogs, or if you’re experiencing one of these other kitchen plumbing problems, you’re advised to call up a professional. He or she will repair the problem and ensure that your plumbing system is operating optimally.
4. HVAC Maintenance
You’re almost sure to have an HVAC system in your home. This could consist of a furnace and an AC, a boiler and an AC, or a variety of other cooling and heating configurations. Regardless, it’s going to require maintenance on a regular basis.
The most general of HVAC maintenance involves the replacement of air filters. This generally needs to be facilitated every three months or so. Other HVAC maintenance to keep in mind includes clearing the AC condenser area, cleaning the furnace combustion chamber, and cleaning out the duct system.
If you fail to perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system, it will suffer efficiency and lifespan issues. This could cost you a decent amount of money over time.
5. Exterior Cleaning
Over time, the exterior of your home will be subject to substantial amounts of dirt and debris. As such, it’s bound to appear unkempt. To prevent this problem from getting out of control, you’re going to have to combat it with regular cleaning.
Not only should you be regularly power washing your siding and roof but your patio and walkways as well. Depending on the type of siding you use, you might even need to repaint it from time to time.
Failing to do these things will greatly reduce the aesthetic of your home. It might even turn your home into an eyesore.
6. Poor Drainage
When it comes to the health and longevity of a home, avoiding water damage is of utmost importance. Unfortunately, because of poor drainage practices, many homes end up suffering from such damage. As such, in order to protect your home, you need to be vigilant of water and take measures to counteract it.
There are a number of different drainage entities that can and should be implemented, depending on your circumstances. If you have a basement, for instance, you need to install a sump pump. If your house is located at the bottom of a slope, you need to grade your yard so that water empties away from it.
Other drainage entities that you might need include French drains, downspout extensions, and drain tiles. In the end, the entities you use are dependent on the nature of your property.
7. Contaminated Water
Regardless of where you live, your water is bound to have some sort of contaminants in it. The majority of these contaminants will be safe for consumption, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t cause other problems.
Some of the problems caused by water-borne contaminants include water staining, poor-smelling water, foul-tasting water, and mineral buildup. Some contaminants might even cause skin or hair problems, and, in the worst of cases, gastrointestinal issues.
Fortunately, there are ways to remove many of these contaminants, allowing you to maintain the quality of your water. The answer lies in water conditioning systems.
Water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, chemical injection systems, and the like can all be exceedingly effective in purifying your water. Install these systems as needed, keep them maintained, and your water will benefit.
Don’t Let Home Maintenance Overwhelm You
Home maintenance can seem like this big, intimidating thing. There’s no doubt: it can have a large impact. There’s no reason to let it overwhelm you, however; utilize the tips reviewed above and everything will be just fine.
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