Preventative home maintenance just makes sense, especially when you consider that an unexpected repair can set you back thousands of dollars. For starters, rain gutters can eliminate many problems associated with excess moisture. However, you need to keep them free of leaves and other debris. You can prevent rotting wood by aiming the sprinkler away from the house. When you shower, turn on a fan or crack a window to prevent moisture from forming that leads to mold and mildew.
Weekly, Monthly, and Seasonal Preventative Home Maintenance Chores
Developing a schedule of preventative home maintenance tasks now is the best way to avoid costly repairs later. Every week, plan to remove all debris from window sills and around the foundation of your home. You should also vacuum all carpets. Some of the things you can do monthly include:
- Vacuum heat registers, refrigerator coils, and vents
- Pour boiling water down drains to ensure they are not clogged
- Clean exhaust fan filter and blades in kitchen
- If you have a frost-free refrigerator, clean its drain pan
- Look for leaks on your dishwasher
If you discover issues such as a clogged drain or leaky dishwasher, find out which tools you need to repair them and attend to the job right away.
Prepare for the warm and cool weather seasons in advance by weather-stripping around doors and windows. Changing the filter on your air conditioner and furnace is also important. Be sure to check your wood-burning fireplace and gas heater as well.
You can prevent a tragedy by making it a point to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every spring and fall. Everyday safety habits, such as turning off appliances and not overloading power cords, can also prevent a costly emergency or serious injuries.
