Regular maintenance on your home will save you money and expensive repairs. In this article, we will discuss roof maintenance, insulation, performing regular repairs on leaks and appliances, caulking, and maintaining the yard. Below are some ways for you to get started on home maintenance to save money.
Regular Roof Inspections and Maintenance
It is suggested that you get a roof inspection every three to five years on your home. A roof inspection will prevent costly repairs later on. It costs between $250 and $650. You should look for missing, cracked, and curling shingles on the roof regularly. Instead of climbing up a ladder, you can use binoculars to view them. Check your ceiling for water spots and trace musty odors in the room to their source. These can be a sign your roof is leaking. You should clean your gutters twice a year in the fall and spring. This keeps the gutters from becoming clogged with leaves and other debris and the water flowing.
Insulation Saves Money on Heating and Cooling
Insulating your home and sealing cracks and gaps in walls will save you on heating and cooling bills in your home. Adding insulation to your attic, crawl spaces, or HVAC system should be performed by a professional. Many homes need additional insulation in walls, attic, and crawl spaces, and there are different types of installation for each. Insulation can be added to single-pane windows that are not as energy efficient. There are window insulation kits at home improvement stores for consumers and adding cellular shades to windows helps to insulate windows better. The EPA estimates consumers will save 15% on heating and cooling with insulation.
Regularly Fixing Things Up
Did you know homeowners spend about 1% to 4% of their home’s value on repairs and upkeep yearly? A home that is $200,000 in value will cost about $2,000 yearly to repair. Every year you should have your furnace cleaned by a professional. This keeps it running efficiently and prevents breakdowns in colder weather. When you have leaks in pipes, faucets, and toilets call a plumber and repair them quickly. It is suggested that you change the HVAC system filter at least once monthly for furnaces and air conditioners. Seal leaks that you find around your windows or doors by using weather stripping. Check your washer hoses for leaks, and replace them about every five years. You should clean the coils in the back of the fridge to keep it cooling efficiently.
Caulk in the Bathroom and Around Windows and Doors
In the bathroom water leaks can cause damage to the walls and ceilings when water leaks due to caulk wear in the shower, between tiles, and on the floor. Caulk keeps seams and joints around toilets, bathtubs, and showers tightly sealed. It is an inexpensive product the comes in a tube. Latex caulk is acceptable, but silicone caulk lasts longer. Caulk with a fungicide will prevent mold in the bathroom. You can apply caulk using a caulk gun, and it is easy to use. You should practice before using it. A tube of caulk can be used to fill cracks around windows and doors too.
Adding and Maintaining Landscaping
Many homeowners enjoy gardening and 42% say that it made them feel happy and healthy. You can develop a budget before you design a landscaping and gardening plan. Decide what you want to plant flowers, herbs, vegetables, or a specialty garden. You will find planting bulbs are an easy way to grow flowers and buying plants already started from garden centers easier to grow. Test your soil annually to help you add the right nutrients to improve your lawn and garden. In the garden, adding mulch prevents weeds and looks neat and tidy. Low volume and drip irrigation systems will save you water because it only adds water to the soil when needed. You can invest in buying native plants in your region that are easy to care for and grow.
These are some different types of home maintenance tasks that will provide savings over the long haul. Keeping up with repairs and cleaning your home will save you from expensive and costly repairs in the future. Regular monthly makes sense and provides savings for homeowners.
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