Your home is going to need some regular maintenance throughout the year. Every 12 months can be a lot for those four walls and roof to handle, so putting some time and effort into repairs and renovations goes a long way. And we all know this, but sometimes it can be difficult to decide which areas of your home need the most TLC from you.
This list is here to make that job easier. If you want to go through your home and ensure it’s in the best working condition, be sure to check the five things below at least once per year – but preferably, check them every six months!
Your Alarms
We all have at least one alarm in our home: the fire alarm. But if you also have a carbon monoxide alarm or a burglar alarm, regularly testing at least once a year means they’re more likely to work without any problems.
You can conduct tests to see if they’re working usually just by pressing a button. In doing so, you’ll see if the unit needs new batteries, which tends to be the most common issue for all of the above.
But you should also look out for signs that the alarm is primed correctly, hasn’t been tampered with, and hasn’t been knocked or dislodged by day to day use.
Your Water Heater
Every home has a water heater of some kind, and every home needs to have that water heater checked on a regular basis. Include your one in your yearly maintenance list.
You’ll know something is going wrong with the heater if you spot it leaking, or every time you’ve gone to shower in the past week, it’s taken a lot longer than usual for the water to heat up.
Performing this regular inspection also means you won’t miss a broken heater before it’s too late. New water heater installation needs to be done ASAP, as a malfunctioning heater could even lead to the system bursting and boiling water spraying out everywhere.
Your Insulation
A gap in the insulation can cost you hundreds in electricity bills throughout the year. If there’s a gap in your home, you need to find it.
You can test for insulation issues visually, by literally looking for holes in seals and if there’s any thinning material anywhere. You can also test by pressing your hand around to see if you can feel air coming through; this will usually be cooler than the rest of the air in your home.
Your Foundation
The foundation can crack and crumble in a matter of days, so you want to be on top of its inspections over the course of a 12 month period. Indeed, seeing as the foundation holds up the rest of your house, if something goes wrong with the base, the entire property could be at risk.
Subsidence is an issue that’s hard to fix once it’s gone too far, and it’ll certainly be expensive to do so as well. If you spot any problems with the way your foundation is currently sitting – which is usually signposted by differences in the mud level – it’s time to call out a professional who can double check.
Your Appliances
How many appliances do you have in your home? Probably a good handful, what with an oven, fridge, washing machine and tumble dryer, and things like your TV and any media center you’ve got set up.
Check these for issues every year as well. If you find one and you’re still under warranty, you should be able to get a replacement without any trouble.
Giving Your Home a Once Over: What to Keep in Mind
The more you check the systems that keep your home the comfortable place it is, the better your property is going to fare.
Make sure any heating systems are in good condition, double check your alarms are working properly, see if there’s a gap in the insulation anywhere, and don’t let a bust washing machine bring you down!
If you find anything, call out for a repair person to come along and take a look. You can always try a DIY fix if you’re confident, but it’s usually better to let a pro handle delicate (and potentially dangerous) jobs like these.
Of course, if you’re renting and these things aren’t your responsibility, still give them a check, just to be sure. If you find any glaring issues, report them to your landlord as soon as you can!
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