Ah! Being a homeowner is a wonderful thing. You have total control of the way your house looks and you know that nobody can boot you out at the end of a lease. It is a wonderful sense of independence - until something breaks. That landlord was your best friend when something broke. Just call him or her up and magically the repair person showed up in a day or so to fix the problem. Now you are on your own and you have to foot the bill. How can you keep the repairman away from your house?
The best way is to keep things from breaking. Performing inspections and basic maintenance on your home at least annually will help you save bundles of money over the long term.
Here are several systems to keep in mind when tuning up your home.
First, the hot water heater. It works away for you day after day and you hardly ever think about it. Keep it lasting longer by draining the tank. During normal operation sediment accumulates at the bottom of tank. This gunk, if left alone, can corrode the bottom of the heater causing a leak and it also forces the heater to work harder. This shortens its life and runs up your gas or electric bill. Consult the owners manual for the draining procedure.
Second, blow the leaves and debris out of your air conditioner fins. Wind and lawnmowers among many things cause the spaces on your A/C fins to fill with gunk. You might be tempted to just spray the hose at it, which will work but could damage the unit. The better course is to take the top off according to the manufacturers instructions and use the hose to blow the debris from the inside out. This also gives you the opportunity to inspect the internal components for rust or wear.
Third, inspect your gutters and downspouts. Leaves in you gutters can cause water to pool inside them and wick under the drip edge. This can rot out your fascia board. Additionally, gutters filled with water are heavy and can start to pull away from the fascia and eventually rip away from the house. Also, make sure all your downspouts are in place. They prevent water from collecting next to your house which can cause basements to leak or flood.
Fourth, inspect the siding on your house. Small holes in wood, vinyl or other material can allow weather, animals or insects into the interior of the wall. These can cause substantial damage over time. If your siding is painted, be sure to keep the painting current to preserve the underlying material. Finding small problems with your siding can head off large problems down the road.
Fifth, inspect your roof. Damaged flashing or shingles can allow water to leak into your home and cause significant damage. One of the unfortunate attributes of water leaks is they can go for very long periods of before being noticed. Replace any missing nails and caulk over any exposed nail heads that might be holding down vents or other devices.
Sixth, inspect your appliances for frayed or defective electrical cords. Repair any that you find to prevent a house fire.
Finally, make sure your furnace filter is changed regularly. Doing so helps keep allergens out of the air and keeps your furnace from working harder than it has to which will extend its life and save money on monthly utility bills!
These are a just a few routine inspections a homeowner should make. Doing them will help you save on repair bills and give greater pride of ownership. Of course, if you aren't comfortable doing certain inspections, you can call the repairman. They will be happy to help and it will be at a much lower cost than if they were coming to repair that same item. Be smart - spend a little to save much more!
Read more about the HVAC products and services provided by Abel Onsite of St. Bonifacius, MN.The best way is to keep things from breaking. Performing inspections and basic maintenance on your home at least annually will help you save bundles of money over the long term.
Here are several systems to keep in mind when tuning up your home.
First, the hot water heater. It works away for you day after day and you hardly ever think about it. Keep it lasting longer by draining the tank. During normal operation sediment accumulates at the bottom of tank. This gunk, if left alone, can corrode the bottom of the heater causing a leak and it also forces the heater to work harder. This shortens its life and runs up your gas or electric bill. Consult the owners manual for the draining procedure.
Second, blow the leaves and debris out of your air conditioner fins. Wind and lawnmowers among many things cause the spaces on your A/C fins to fill with gunk. You might be tempted to just spray the hose at it, which will work but could damage the unit. The better course is to take the top off according to the manufacturers instructions and use the hose to blow the debris from the inside out. This also gives you the opportunity to inspect the internal components for rust or wear.
Third, inspect your gutters and downspouts. Leaves in you gutters can cause water to pool inside them and wick under the drip edge. This can rot out your fascia board. Additionally, gutters filled with water are heavy and can start to pull away from the fascia and eventually rip away from the house. Also, make sure all your downspouts are in place. They prevent water from collecting next to your house which can cause basements to leak or flood.
Fourth, inspect the siding on your house. Small holes in wood, vinyl or other material can allow weather, animals or insects into the interior of the wall. These can cause substantial damage over time. If your siding is painted, be sure to keep the painting current to preserve the underlying material. Finding small problems with your siding can head off large problems down the road.
Fifth, inspect your roof. Damaged flashing or shingles can allow water to leak into your home and cause significant damage. One of the unfortunate attributes of water leaks is they can go for very long periods of before being noticed. Replace any missing nails and caulk over any exposed nail heads that might be holding down vents or other devices.
Sixth, inspect your appliances for frayed or defective electrical cords. Repair any that you find to prevent a house fire.
Finally, make sure your furnace filter is changed regularly. Doing so helps keep allergens out of the air and keeps your furnace from working harder than it has to which will extend its life and save money on monthly utility bills!
These are a just a few routine inspections a homeowner should make. Doing them will help you save on repair bills and give greater pride of ownership. Of course, if you aren't comfortable doing certain inspections, you can call the repairman. They will be happy to help and it will be at a much lower cost than if they were coming to repair that same item. Be smart - spend a little to save much more!
Article independently authored by Eric Parish. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.
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