Learning about Home Maintenance

First-time homebuyers feel a thrill when the keys to their homes are finally placed in their hands. They may begin planning how they will decorate, what furniture they need to buy or when they will host their first parties. Home maintenance is seldom thought of until something goes wrong.  If you want your home to continue to look and work like it did when you first walked through the door, you will have ongoing maintenance to manage.

Heating and Cooling

One of the biggest expenses in a home is replacing a furnace or air conditioner. To postpone that purchase as long as possible, you have to take care of the systems from day one. Unless you are buying a new build, schedule a visit from a professional to look at your heating and cooling systems. They can clean the air filters or replace them and do other preventative maintenance to keep everything running smoothly.

You can learn to replace your own filters. You should check them at least once a year or more often if you have pets.

Fireplaces

If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove in your home, you need to have a professional check and clean the chimney before you use it. This prevents the likelihood of a house fire when you start using your fireplace. This is a job for professionals and must be done every fall before you build your first fire.

Gutters and Roofs

You must clean out your gutters to ensure proper water runoff. Otherwise, it can leak onto your roof and along the house line and cause damage. When cleaning the gutters, take time to check the roof as well. Look for any broken or damaged shingles and have them replaced.

You need to check your gutters every spring and fall and inspect your roof at the same time. If you have a strong storm known for doing damage, you will want to do a quick check then, too.

Caulking

There are two areas that homeowners need to be concerned about for caulking. First, the windows. This keeps the air from getting around the cracks. Keeping your windows sealed will improve heating and cooling efficiency and help you save on utility bills. In addition, it prevents water from getting in and damaging your home. This is a DIY job so it won't cost you much, except for the price of the caulk and your time.

Check the caulk on your windows every fall, but you may not have to do it every year.

The second place to caulk is around your tub. Check it around the floor and the walls by the tub to make sure the caulk is tight. If it is loose or missing, recaulk it. This prevents water from causing damage. At the same time, check the seal around the toilet.

Other typical maintenance for homeowners includes inspecting the exterior paint for peeling or cracking and power-washing it to keep it clean, checking decks for damage or to re-stain and inspecting the crawl space for water leaks.

By doing regular home maintenance, you can prevent a lot of costly issues. It also allows you more time to spend enjoying your home rather than making repairs.