Regular house care is essential if you want to prevent excessive home maintenance or want to sell your property at a deep discount. If the owners were already capable of keeping up with the upkeep, most of the properties we acquire and rebuild might have been offered considerably to retail buyers. Even with well-maintained houses, there are some things that we often see homeowners overlooking. In this article, we go through the top 10 things that homeowners often overlook while doing routine maintenance.
To Avoid a Flood, Test the Sump Pump
Although it’s easy to overlook your sump pump, ensuring it’s in excellent functioning condition is crucial. If you wouldn’t, you can be in the same situation as the homeowner who came home after a weekend vacation to find his whole basement floor soaked with 1/2 inch water. He turned off the power, waded into the sump pump, and discovered it wasn’t functioning. The wire tied to the float must have been twisted somehow, he reasoned after giving it a closer look. He took two seconds to disentangle the cable, and the following 15 hours were spent shifting fans, running the wet/dry vac, and pulling out the soggy carpet. Ensure your pump includes a vertical float switch to prevent a similar catastrophe. Additionally, you should test your pump at least a few times a year by pouring water into the basin to ensure everything is operating as it should.
Verify any Faulty Fixtures & Appliances or High Water Pressure
The original water softener had burst, filling the pipes with tiny zeolite beads, so the installer was replacing it with a relatively new softening with the help of a professional.
Although the helper conducted some research, the technician didn’t seem very concerned about why the previous one had failed. And over 110 lbs. psi were measured during a water pressure test. The 17-year pressure-reducing valve was to blame. When a replacement valve was put in, the pressure dropped to around 75 lbs. While they are often located close to the main water shut down valve, not all residences have pressure-reducing valves. Your municipality has an impact.
Pipes, connectors, and appliances may suffer damage from high water pressure. In addition, it wastes a ton of water and produces water hammers. One simple maintenance task often skipped is monitoring for high water pressure. Home centers offer a fresh pressure-reducing valve and a straightforward pressure gauge like this one that connects to a fixture or washing tub faucet. You can easily get a furnace replacement in St Albert or an area near you.
Maintain Window Wells Clean to Avoid a Broken Window & Wet Basement
If you’ve never had a water issue in a window well, you may not consider cleaning it. One homeowner who ignored his window wells had the following consequences. A blocked gutter caused a lot of water to be spilled adjacent to his home and into his window well after a light rainstorm. The well’s leaves functioned like a pool lining, inhibiting drainage, and the water level grew until the pressure was so great that it destroyed the basement windows. The basement was filled with endless amounts of water, devastating everything in its path. Unfortunately, he was uninsured for that particular flood. Stop allowing this to happen to you. Window well covers are available at home improvement stores.
Clean Dryer Grilles to Save Energy and Prevent Fires
Your dryer will operate inefficiently as a result of a clogged dryer vent, which is terrible. Additionally, a clogged dryer vent might result in a devastating home fire! Due to the longer ducts, dryers that seem centrally positioned in homes are more susceptible to clogging. Various factors, including excess lint, nesting vermin, and jammed exhaust hood flappers, may cause duct backups. Two indications that your vent is obstructed are stronger scents and longer drying times. Cleaning the dryer’s exhaust vent requires taking it out of the back of the machine. To clean the ducts, you may either use a wet/dry vacuum or a brush on a long, flexible rod that is attached to a power drill. The kits are offered at home improvement stores. If your ducts need to be replaced, select smooth metal ducts instead than flexible ducts with their rough corrugated surface since they will remain cleaner longer. Plastic ducting should never be used; it poses a fire risk.
Check for Mouse Nests or Risk of Equipment Damage
Mice like engine chambers, window A/C units, and lawn tractor niches. Before starting an underused vehicle or equipment, inspect for mouse nests. You don’t want to pull out your boat and find hairy stowaways that have eaten through cables. Nests may overheat electronics and jam carburetors.
Lubricate Garage Springs or Repair Them as Soon as Possible
Lubricate torsion springs above roller tracks. Lubing springs at least yearly will render them longer and prevent metal fatigue and corrosion. Preserve the wall behind the spring with cardboard when spraying. Stores sell garage door lubricant. Lubricate rollers, hinges, and track.
Drain Sediment from Your Water Heater or Assume a Reduced Life Time
The homeowner phoned a plumber because her boiler was not heating and leaking. The plumber questioned whether the homeowner had been emptying it each year. The homeowner answered no. Why?’ Sediment settles in the tank. Spots on gas-powered heaters may damage the tank and cause early failure. In an electric heater, silt accumulation might fail the bottom heating element. So, emptying a heater will cut energy expenses and lengthen its life. Every year, empty water heaters.
Clean Refrigerator Coils
Condenser coils for refrigerators are found at the bottom or on the rear of the appliance. Dust, pet hair, and cobweb block coils, make it difficult for them to release heat effectively. Consequently, your compressor uses more energy and operates lengthier than intended, reducing the lifespan of your refrigerator. Utilize coil-cleaning brushes and a vacuum to clean the coils. A coil-cleaning brush conducts a thorough job and may be bent to fit in small spaces. Look for one there or online at appliance retailers.
Clean Window Holes
Many sliding windows & vinyl replacement windows contain leak holes. These holes drain rainwater from the bottom frame channel. Water may back up into your house if debris and insects have clogged the weep holes.
Pour water into the weep track or splash the windows with a water hose to test it. If the weep hole isn’t releasing clean water, stick a wire hanger in it or spray it with compressed air, then moisten it again. The wind flapper may be extracted with a craft knife and replaced.
Check Garage Door
Balanced doors are less likely to cause injury and protect the latching mechanism from working hard, which shortens its life.
Shut the door and disconnect the opening by pulling the handle. Halfway open the door and let go. Balanced doors remain halfway open by themselves. If it falls, tighten it. If the door raises, the door spring is over-tensioned and works too hard.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even the most seasoned homeowner may find house repairs to be a daunting endeavor. Taking the time to inspect and maintain your home regularly can help you to identify potentially hazardous issues before they become costly repairs. Taking the time to learn more about common home repair issues and how to address them can help you save time, money, and frustration in the long run. With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of care, you can ensure that your home is in good repair and remains a safe and comfortable place to enjoy.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
