Everyone loves the feeling of living in a comfortable, well-maintained home but part of what makes it possible to enjoy your house is knowing that regular maintenance is being conducted and common home maintenance mistakes are avoided. This helps prevent costly repairs that can set you back financially and cause many other headaches. To keep your home running smoothly, avoid these common home maintenance mistakes made by homeowners:
Failing to inspect the roof.
You should inspect the roof at least once a year, but it’s best if you inspect it more often. If you’re looking for ways to cut costs, this is one area where you can save quite a bit of money by doing some of the work yourself.
The first step in inspecting your roof is to get up on it! You don’t want to be climbing ladders and walking across your home’s shingles without proper equipment or training. Here are some basic guidelines for inspecting the outside of your house:
- Make sure that all doors and windows are closed before beginning this process; otherwise, water could get into your walls and cause major damage.
- Look for signs of wear and tear in the siding, gutters, fascia boards (the corners), flashings (the metal pieces that cover joints between materials), downspouts (where water flows), skylights (for ventilation)… basically, anything that touches or surrounds open space where rainwater might collect should be inspected carefully before proceeding further with other steps below so as not to miss anything important while doing so.
Not having trees trimmed regularly.
When a tree is overgrown, it can start to damage your home and yard. The roots can grow too long and begin to split the foundation of your house. If there are too many branches on the ground, they could cause damage to your gutters, roof, and walls if they fall down during high winds or heavy rains. You should also be aware that trees with weak limbs may come down in strong winds or snowstorms which will put you at risk for injury as well as property ucuz escort | İstanbul Escort Bayan damage.
If you want your trees trimmed, call an arborist who will do all necessary repairs after trimming so that you don’t have any more problems with overgrown trees!
Letting leaves pile up under vegetation.
Leaves are an excellent source of nutrients for many plants, but they should not be allowed to pile up under them. If leaves are allowed to build up in this manner, they prevent sunlight from reaching the plant’s roots and can eventually suffocate them. When possible, rake leaves off into piles that can then be composted or used as mulch in other parts of your yard (never burn them).
You should check also your gutters and roof to make sure they’re clear of leaves or other debris. If you don’t do this, it can lead to water damage on the inside of your house. Leaves can cause roof leaks and foundation cracks preventing proper drainage from gutters, which causes them to overflow and spill into your basement or crawl space or you’re gonna have to use a sump pump. Flush outdoor water faucets to help in maintaining your vegetation.
Insufficient and inconsistent gutter care.
If you neglect your gutters, it can cause more problems than just a dirty appearance. Over time, leaves and other debris will start to clog the gutters and prevent water from flowing properly. This can lead to structural damage to the roof, which will require expensive repairs.
There are several things homeowners can do to avoid this problem and keep their gutters clear:
- Clean them at least twice per year
- Clean them after every big storm or snowfall (or when they’re especially dirty)
- Have an expert clean them if you have extensive issues
Skipping maintenance that can prevent termite infestations.
One of the most common types of pest infestations is termite infestation. This can cause extensive damage to the wood in your home and be costly to repair. If you are in a region where termites are prevalent, it’s likely that you have had one or more inspections for termites over the years.
If your home is in an area with a high risk for termites to enter and causing damage, it’s recommended that you have regular inspections performed by a professional pest control company at least every two years. Depending on how much exposure there is outside your home (such as trees or shrubs), some people may need more frequent inspections than others.
Leaving dog and cat messes unremoved from your yard.
If you have a pet, the last thing you want is to leave dog and cat messes in your yard. However, this is an all too common mistake that many homeowners make.
Not only are there health risks associated with allowing animal waste to remain on your property, but it can also be dangerous for children (or adults) who play outside. Animals may seek shade under trees and bushes where they’ve left their droppings. If these areas aren’t maintained regularly, that can lead to contamination of the soil and groundwater when it rains—which means more diseases are being spread around!
So what should you do?
First, pick up your pets immediately after they go number two. Be sure not just the surface area but an inch deep so any disease-carrying bacteria won’t be able to pass through into the soil below where it could infect other living things like plants or even humans. You should also use disinfectant wipes or sprayers in order to kill any bugs/eggs/larvae that might still be present after cleaning up – especially if there have been multiple animals using one area frequently throughout time such as during summer months when kids spend lots of time outside playing baseball games etcetera instead.
Skipping regular Heating System and Air Conditioning System maintenance
It’s easy to put off HVAC maintenance. You might feel like you’re paying for something you don’t really need, or that it wastes your time. But regular maintenance is important and can save you money in the long run. For example, if your system isn’t working properly, it could be putting out dangerous levels of carbon monoxide—which means that skipping an annual checkup could cost lives (not just money). There are air quality monitoring devices that can be used as carbon monoxide detectors.
Similarly, ignoring simple things like changing filters and cleaning coils can lead to expensive repairs down the line. Overall, your home’s heating and air conditioning systems should provide comfort for its occupants—and if there’s any chance it could do otherwise, then it’s best not to leave things up in the air.
Not having a plan for quick action in the event of a plumbing emergency.
One of the most common home maintenance mistakes homeowners make when it comes to home maintenance is not having a plan for quick action in the event of a plumbing emergency. This can be a huge problem, as plumbing problems can lead to serious water damage and costly repairs if they’re not addressed promptly. To keep yourself protected, you should develop both an emergency repair plan and an emergency maintenance plan.
To start with, you’ll want to create a list of plumbers who are available 24/7 and can help you in times of crisis. Keep this list on hand so that you can quickly access it during an urgent situation.
Additionally, consider developing similar lists for other emergencies like electrical issues, heating problems, and air conditioning issues as well (or even general contractors who specialize in fixing all types of home issues).
Failure to maintain proper air quality through regular filter changes and annual inspections.
Air filters should be changed every three months to ensure optimal air quality. Air filters should be changed more often if you have pets or allergies, smoke in the home, and/or use a fireplace or wood stove.
Failure to clean or replace air conditioning filters regularly leads to poor air quality, which can cause health problems for you and your family members. Air conditioning filters should be replaced every three months during the heating season and once a year during the cooling season. Dirty filters can restrict air flow, causing the system to overheat and potentially cause a fire hazard. In addition to this, a fire extinguisher at home is a must-have.
Also, maintain and clean range hood filters to avoid mineral and corrosion buildup. Some of these home maintenance mistakes are easily avoided.
Save money and avoid costly repairs that can be prevented with proper care and
You can avoid costly repairs and keep your home in tip-top shape by taking a proactive approach to home maintenance.
Home Maintenance Mistakes are not hard to ignore
It’s important to remember that there are always unexpected events and circumstances in life, but you can do a lot to help prevent minor home maintenance issues from becoming major problems. Being aware of your home’s needs is the first step towards taking better care of it.
