You’ve bought your first home, and you’ve both moved in. It’s an exciting time, and a new experience to be shared. However, it is important to keep in mind that much like a car, your home will need regular maintenance to avoid costly headaches down the line. Once you’ve done the pre-move-in checks detailed in ‘5 Things That You Need To Know About Moving Into a New Home’, it’s time to consider the next steps and draw up a list of the kind of maintenance your home will need.
Here we’ll go over a few of the more critical aspects recommended by homeowners from around the world.
Clean Roof and Gutters Regularly
Your roof should be inspected at least twice a year, during spring and fall. If you live in a humid, and rainy climate like the Philippines, it’s a good idea to look for any trapped moisture, moss, algae, and signs that your roof may be leaking. In their home maintenance checklist, Real Living, reminds homeowners to also check metal flashings for rust and hose down dirt from the gutters. Clogged gutters could lead to foundational damage.
Instead of water channelling away from the house, it could seep down the walls and over time create mold and rot. Keeping your gutters clean of dirt and leaves is important to maintaining a healthy roof and proper water drainage.
Inspect and Winter Proof Plumbing
Checking the plumbing for leaks is very important, as we’ve mentioned, but come winter, homeowners in the UK also have to make sure their pipes and plumbing are well insulated and heated to avoid them freezing and cracking. The Independent’s guide to preventing and dealing with frozen pipes outlines that pipes need sufficient insulation, especially if they’re exposed.
Additionally, if you’re going away on holiday leave your thermostat on low to maintain warmth in your home and prevent your pipes from freezing. With this in mind, HomeServe suggests that their British customers get their plumbing checked in case of any burst pipes. If pipes lack proper insulation, water will freeze and expand, causing pipes to crack. This means costly repairs so it’s best to be diligent and do the necessary checks in advance to determine if your plumbing needs winter-proofing.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Regularly cleaning your dryer vents is one of the most crucial parts of regular maintenance, however, it’s an aspect that’s often overlooked by U.S. homeowners. The New York Times claims that clogged dryer vents are second only to kitchen fires as the leading cause of fire damage, with improperly cleaned dryers and vents causing 2,900 fires every year.
While cleaning your dryer lint screen after every load is crucial to allow it to operate optimally and prevent fires, a properly installed and maintained dryer vent system is also vital. As lint is a major culprit for fires, it’s best to have an HVAC specialist who specializes in ductwork and vents inspect it, particularly if the home you moved it into is older than 10 years.
Ensure Fireplace and Chimney Are Clean
Late summer is the perfect time to make sure your fireplace and chimney are cleaned. Canadian homeowners know this best as in many parts of the country the cold starts to set in during late August and early September. Early preventive maintenance is key as 42% of all home-heating fires in Canada are caused by fireplaces and chimneys. Most importantly you want to prevent carbon monoxide (a deadly odourless and colourless gas) from seeping into your home.
Ensuring then that your fireplace is free of creosote in the chimney and flue is also crucial to prevent chimney fires. This is an area where a professional chimney sweep should be called in not only to make sure the entire system is clean but also to check for cracks and loose bricks.
