The home is comprised of various systems and structural units that make it feel more like home. From the chimney to the foundation, homeowners are required to make sure that they’re maintaining each part of the house accordingly. Though overlooking a home improvement need may not seem like much initially, failure to keep up can end up costing a lot more than you bargained for and ruin the integrity and efficiency of your home. As there can be a lot to remember, creating a list similar to the one you’ll read below is advised.
Clean the Gutters
One home maintenance task that seems to be “out of sight, out of mind” is tending to the gutter system. The gutters, although a small part of the exterior of the home, play a very significant role. When clogged with debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt, it makes it difficult for rainwaters to travel away from the home which can lead to foundation problems later. You should have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year by a professional to remove all debris. If your home has lots of trees surrounding it, however, you may need to consider having it done more frequently.
Pest Control
Pests like mice, roaches, spiders, and termites can be very difficult to deal with on your own. Often, when you find one in the home, there are several somewhere hiding that you’re unaware of. Allowing the situation to get out of control can lead to infestation, making your home an unhealthy environment. If do it yourself measures are no longer working, it is best to hire a professional. You find local providers by searching the internet. For example, if you live in California, you might search for San Diego pest control services. Doing this at least once a year can help to keep any unwanted pests from living in your home.
Service Your HVAC Systems
One of the luxuries of a home is the heating and cooling systems that help to moderate temperatures and keep you feeling comfortable year-round. As convenient as they are, you’d be surprised to learn that very few homeowners keep up with necessary maintenance. Outside of changing the filters, there are other maintenance tasks that need to be carried out to ensure the systems continue to run efficiently. Annual maintenance contracts with an HVAC company are affordable and provide you with routine services on both your heating and cooling systems.
Clean the Chimney
If you’re fortunate enough to have a wood-burning fireplace, it is vital to your health and safety that you keep them well maintained. Failure to do things like cleaning the chimney and repairing minor damage could result in toxic gases entering the home, or even worse, your house catching on fire. As completing roofing projects on your own can be dangerous, it is best to hire a chimney sweep to handle this for you.
Clean the Carpets
The carpets in your home absorb a lot. Though you may diligently vacuum, it may not remove everything from the floors. Pet fur and dander, dirt, food particles, dust, and other debris is trapped within the carpet fibers. This buildup can be especially difficult if you have asthma or allergy sufferers in the home. Having your carpets deep cleaned at least once or twice a year will remove those environmental hazards allowing everyone in the home to breathe a lot easier.
If you want to keep your home in good shape, keeping up with all required maintenance is a must. Overlooking the importance of any of these or other home improvement jobs will only make things worse in the end. If you tend to forget certain responsibilities, use resources like annual maintenance contracts with service providers and maintenance checklists to keep you on track.