Housekeeping: What Did You Forget?

Image Courtesy Of Catt Liu

If you are a homeowner, you know that just when you think everything is ok with your house, something goes wrong.  A homeowner’s job is never done. There is ALWAYS something that needs to be done. And this is all in addition to the day-to-day tasks that you need to complete.

But, surprisingly enough, there are a lot of very common tasks that homeowners forget to maintain that could potentially be very dangerous to your house.  Basic home maintenance tasks highlights some of the key tasks that homeowners overlook each year in their home.

Chimney Cleaning

Everyone loves to look at a beautiful fireplace on a cool evening but forgetting to take care of it can lead to serious issues.  Chimneys help to keep the indoor air safe in your home. Getting a chimney sweep is important because the combination of smoke, hydrocarbon, water vapor, wood particles, minerals, and tar fog travel up and down your chimney, which can lead to a residue called creosote.  This is highly flammable which can lead to a house or roof fire. It is also wise to purchase air purifiers for your home as well to help with your health and safety.

Maintaining the Water Heater

Your water heater should be inspected every single year.  Inspectors will look to drain the tank of the sediments and minerals that have built up inside.  If it is not cleaned and the buildup continues you will have inefficient heating. It is also very important to check and replace the rods and valves every so often to keep them fresh.  If not, they can disintegrate or become backed up with crud. You don’t want your water heater to be backed up and eventually burst.

Clothes Dryer Maintenance

The simplest thing you can do here is to make sure you clean out the lint filter after every single load.  This lint can catch on fire very easily due to the heat produced from the dryer. It is also advisable to remove the dryer duct from the back once a year or so to make sure you have removed any built-up lint so that air can easily flow outside.

Check for Water Leaks

There is nothing worse that can happen than to have a leak in your house.  In addition to everything getting ruined, you will have a long rebuilding process ahead of you.  Check under your sinks every so often for moisture, discoloration, or water stains. This would also be a good time to check the shut off valves to keep them from having a buildup of crud.  Exercising them every now and then is a good idea.

Roof and Gutter Maintenance

You want to make sure that the shingles on your roof don’t get damaged after powerful storms.  This can lead to water leaks and lead to a much more serious problem. Keep tabs on any shingles that may need to be replaced and stay on top of it.  

The same is true for the gutters.  They need to be cleaned out frequently to prevent water from flooding back into the house.  The downspouts should be draining properly and should never be clogged.

These are simple tasks that you should be doing several times each year to make sure your house is safe.  If you ignore the problem, it is only going to grow bigger and bigger and eventually lead to major house issues and major financial problems.  With owning a house comes great responsibility.