Save Time and Money with Preventative Home Maintenance

Many of us are guilty of waiting until something breaks before we try to fix it. Sure, we know the house needs pressure washed, or that the lawn needs raked, but who wants to spend the weekend on home maintenance tasks? Well, in order to save money on more expensive home repairs, preventative home maintenance should be on everyone's 'to do' list. With regular attention, you can get through all the tasks included on the home maintenance checklist found below, and prevent bigger problems down the road.

The change of season provides the perfect opportunity to perform preventative home maintenance tasks. Upon the arrival of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, take a moment a go over the home maintenance checklist to see what important tasks should be completed. If you cannot complete the tasks yourself, hire a qualified professional to do it for you. Remember the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? It's definitely something to consider when you're tempted to overlook regular home maintenance.

Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist

Clean the gutters - Remove leaves and other debris from the gutters with every change of season. This will prevent water from pooling against the foundation or leaking into other areas of the home.

Inspect the roof - Conduct a visual inspection from both ground level and roof level, and look for signs of damaged or missing shingles. Also check for discolored areas on the roof that may indicate water damage.

Clear the area around your heating and air unit - Your heating and air unit needs to work twice and hard when it is surrounded by overgrowth. Clear out the area around the unit to allow air to move freely.

Pressure wash the house - Pressure washing the house will not only make it look nicer, it will also help to prolong the life of the siding or other building materials.

Trim bushes and hedges - Bushes, hedges and even trees should be regularly trimmed and/or pruned. This will keep the plant life healthy and will also keep your home visible and deter criminals from approaching it.

Termite inspection - Have a professional come in and inspect for termites at least once a year. Take it from a person that has experienced this problem first hand. You won't know if you have termites! These wood destroying insects will quickly destroy your home and are particularly drawn to wood that has been affected by water damage.

Empty the septic tank - If you have a septic tank, it needs to regularly checked and periodically emptied. Failure to do so will result in the tank backing-up through the toilet, sink faucets, and onto the yard. It's costly, it's smelly, and not a good situation whatsoever.

Recaulk around sinks and bathtubs - As caulking ages, it tends to pull away from the surfaces it is protecting. What happens is, water then begins to seep into the opening and can cause major damage to wood surfaces. It is imperative that you recaulk regularly around sinks, bathtubs, and shower stalls.

Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors - This preventative home maintenance task requires very little effort, yet it could save your life. Check the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors with every change of season.

Service heating and air units - Have a qualified HVAC technician come in and service your heating and air unit at the start of summer and again before winter. This will ensure that the unit is in top working order BEFORE the weather gets to an uncomfortable temperature.

Check windows and door jams for gaps - If you can place your hand beside a window or door and feel warm (or cool) air, you're paying more than you have to for energy. Block the air flow with weatherstripping, door seals, or other weatherization products.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

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SOURCE:

Personal knowledge

Jennifer Wagner - Yahoo! Contributor Network

Jenny Wagner - Columbus Home Improvement Examiner