Now that you’re dealing with your house’s mortgage and all the other expenses, it’s time to take care of your house. A house is just like a person – it needs to stay healthy to work right. Home maintenance through insulation and weatherization is the key. After all, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of the cure, as the old saying goes.
If you maintain your house well, you will avoid major repair issues in the future. Your upkeep can affect your house’s worth if the time comes for it to be appraised, for whatever reason.
Clean the system. Always keep your HVAC system or air circulation vents as clean as possible. Also, regularly replace your air conditioner and furnace filters as suggested by the manufacturers. These actions will make the system more efficient, and will give you more time between major overhauls. Check if your thermostat is calibrated correctly for the season, too.
If you have a chimney, always give it a once-over when the weather is good. Check for loose sidings, cracks and outright leaks. Remove fireplace ashes to prevent moisture buildup that can damage the chimney itself.
Knock on wood. Check all wooden parts of the house for pests and wear. Wash, treat, varnish or paint as necessary. It will be much more expensive to replace the wooden parts or sections.
Weatherization is important. Home insulation, when properly done and maintained, will not only save you money in heating expenses, it will also prevent damage to the house itself. Check all your doors and windows periodically. If a room feels colder than the others even with the same amount of heating, you may have to reinstall windows and doors with new insulation material.
You should also regularly inspect your roofing and your attic insulation for leaks, loose shingles, mold and signs of degradation.
Look for “small things” that need attention. Always clean your roof gutters when the weather allows it. Check your basement for signs of moisture, molds and fungus. If you have a sump-pump for heavy rains, make sure that you test it regularly. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers should also be inspected regularly.
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