Keeping your home well-kept and comfortable is hard work. Modern houses are full of conveniences, like air conditioning and water heating systems, that make life at home easier. But these same systems need a lot of maintenance, on top of more mundane concerns, like leaking roofs and cracked pavements. So it’s only natural that a homeowner forgets a few things.
What home maintenance chores tend to fall through the cracks? They fall into two categories: major and minor chores.
Major Chores, Major Benefits
These chores can take some time to accomplish, but forgetting to do them can lead to big problems around the house. You can invest a whole weekend to checking and maintaining the following things on your property.
- Maintain your chimney: Your chimney can accumulate creosote, a flammable substance that comes from wood fires. Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year to remove this possible fire hazard. You can take things one step further by having chimney liner installed, which can reduce structural damage to your flues and fireplaces.
- Clean your gutters: Leaves and other debris can clog your gutters. During a rainstorm, this can lead to water overflowing into your roof, which can damage your home and lead to leaky ceilings. Climb a ladder and remove these detritus from your drains.
- Check your roof: While you’re up there cleaning your gutter, inspect your roof for any damage. Look for loose or missing shingles, cracked caulk, or any sign of roof decay, such as moss. You probably don’t spend much time on your roof, so maximize any opportunity to check its condition. This could save you from expensive repairs in the future.
Minor Chores, Major Results
Some chores that you might forget are easy to accomplish, but usually involve nooks and crannies you overlook. You can do these chores during an afternoon off, or knock them all out of your to-do list in one day.
- Take note of your water pressure: Your water pressure valve can last a long time, but they can fail after a few years. Check the integrity of your home’s water pressure valve twice a year to keep your supply of clean water optimal.
- Wipe your refrigerator coils clean: These components are in the back of your refrigerator, and they’re important to keeping your food cool and fresh. If you don’t remove dust and debris from these coils, it can cause your refrigerator compressor to overwork and shorten its life span. Wipe dust and debris from the coils every three months to keep your refrigerator working.
- Test your basement sump pump: Every basement should have a sump connection. This keeps your basement from flooding from ground water or rain. You should pour a bucket of water into the pump four times a year to see if it’s still functioning. You’ll avoid the unpleasant surprise of coming home to a flooded basement and ruined furniture with this simple test.
There are lots of ways you can remind yourself to check these things in the future. You can note them on a calendar, whether it’s on your phone or on your wall. You can look for apps that help remind and schedule chores on the internet. That way, the next time you pick up your phone, you can see whether or not you should be picking up your toolbox instead.
