In this article we will discuss a number of important home maintenance tips in order to save you money in the long run. These are tips that can apply to every home and should be taken care of either by the owner or by a professional who is employed for this particular purpose.
Check your water bill to track water consumption
Water damage is one of those events that most homeowners are desperate to avoid. Water damage in a house can be truly disastrous. If left unchecked, even a slow leak will rot out drywall and studs, create black mold, and eventually weaken major structural elements of the property. So stopping leaks before that first drop of water starts is the best way to prevent water damage.
For many of us, it’s hard to detect a leak in our home until the telltale water stain appears on the ceiling. One of the simplest ways to watch for leaks and water consumption is keeping track of your bill. Take a look at your water bill monthly and compare month over month. If the number is higher than average, you might want to explore further with the help of a professional plumber.
Check the gutters
You can be sure that gutters which are overflowing with debris will not do their job, and can lead to much more costly water damage. Similarly to the pipes in your house, gutters and downspouts can be thought of as a type of exterior system of pipes that move water away from the foundation. Water spilling over packed gutters will result in a number of problems. The biggest being the compromising the foundation. Water leaking through foundation walls can also damage walls and floors.
So be sure to check and clean your gutters every spring and fall, clearing away any muck, sealing any leaks, and replacing damaged gutters as this is extremely important. Typically, cleaning your gutters and downspouts once or twice a year, or as the seasons change is the way to prevent all of that water damage.
Plumbing
Give your pipes a good look through checking under sinks to make sure there are no signs of leaks. Look up at your ceilings and walls too for telltale signs of water like water stains or a sign of a leak in the wall.
Go around to all your faucets and toilets and check for any small leaks. If you have poor water pressure out of a faucet, the aerator is the likely problem and it is an extremely easy fix.
Sump pump
Spring often brings rain. So check your sump pump to make sure it is draining the water properly. You do not want to wait until a major rainstorm to find out that the pump’s motor is not working. If your home has a sump pump in the basement, checking it includes testing it out twice a year.
Check the water levels of the pump. if it’s overflowing, it is probably not doing its job properly. You should also take the time to clean the pump of any debris surrounding it, making sure it can do its job efficiently. Unplug and plug in your sump pump, to see if its energy source is working properly. Uncovering any issues early on can save you thousands down the line when it comes to water damage and flooding.
Inspect the exterior of your home
For little more than the price of a tube or two of caulking, you can quickly and easily get rid of any leaks around windows and doors well before they begin.
When the weather is fair, take a good look at your home’s exterior to look for any cracked or missing caulk. Pay particular attention to the top of the window casing, where water can and tends to accumulate.
Any crack that you notice must be filled in. This is because it is important to note that there is no such thing as a good or acceptable crack. On the inside, look for tell-tale signs of water leakage such as bubbled paint, mold spots, crumbly drywall or plaster, or termite activity.
Trees
If your property has any trees make sure to have them inspected by a certified arborist, who can check for signs of problems like any dead branches and they will catch these problems before they escalate and completely kill a tree. The untrained eye could miss signs of damage, and the fact of the matter is that a dead or dying tree poses a safety hazard to you, your home as well as the neighboring properties.
Regrout or recaulk your tub, showers, and bathroom fixtures
Whether you have grout or caulk as a filler between your tiles in the bathroom, there is no doubt that this will show signs of wear and tear over time. So look around and if you notice any peeling or crumbling, it’s probably time for a touch-up or redo. This is vital as it will prolong the life of your tiled surfaces and also looks much better.
Conclusion
A home is an investment of a lifetime, it’s a place where you grow up and have great memories and needs to be taken care of.
Having said that, for you to truly protect your investment you need to have insurance that will really take care of you when need be. Protect your home with our home insurance.
GasanMamo Insurance Ltd. is authorised under the Insurance Business Act and regulated by the MFSA