Homeownership has long been called \u201cthe American dream.\u201d \u00a0Some of us get to the point in our lives where we seek stable neighborhoods, schools, or a hometown that we can call our own.\u00a0\u00a0 This quest for stability could probably be the biggest investment we\u2019ll ever make.<\/p>\n
Anything that’s\u00a0your biggest investment\u00a0can also be your biggest headache if you don\u2019t routinely take care of it. Basic house maintenance might seem like an intimidating or expensive chore, especially if you are a new homeowner trying to save money. Just follow this helpful house maintenance guide to keep your \u201cAmerican Dream\u201d comfortable for the years to come.<\/p>\n
Your house maintenance guide<\/a> or \u201cto-do\u201d list may seem like it\u2019s a mile long.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed at all the large and little tasks that seem like a priority right now.\u00a0 The best way to tackle this runaway \u201cto-do\u201d list is to create a house maintenance calendar that schedules tasks by the seasons.<\/p>\n Houses operate with the seasons as they come alive in the spring and button-up during the cold winter months. Your home repair and maintenance list should spell out your annual tasks and which season you should make those checks.<\/p>\n The following is a suggested seasonal checklist<\/a> of these maintenance checks and when they deserve your attention.<\/p>\n As you ready your home for those long, cold winters, this is the time to contact a licensed heating contractor to inspect and service your heater.\u00a0 Heating contractors will inspect your heater\u2019s duct system for leaks.\u00a0 They will also check your heater\u2019s insulation and airflow<\/a> to make sure that it’s meeting the manufacturer\u2019s specifications.<\/p>\n You can prepare for this inspection ahead of time and clean the furnace filter to remove dust or cobweb build-ups.\u00a0 Vacuum heat registered and vents.\u00a0 Point out any outdoor or indoor clogged air vents that the contractor might help you clear<\/p>\n If you have a hot water system for heating, this is the time to drain it and flush out any sediment that might have built up since the last time you used it.\u00a0 This is also a good time to check the water heater\u2019s pressure valve to make sure it’s working optimally.<\/p>\n As more people start to light up their home fireplaces again, this is also a good time to inspect your home smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.\u00a0 The US Fire Administration reports that unsafe heating units are the second leading cause of home fires. Sometimes just a simple push on the detector\u2019s \u201ctest\u201d button will let you know if you need to replace batteries or the entire detector.<\/p>\n Winter is a perfect time to pencil-in \u201clandscaping upkeep\u201d on your home maintenance calendar.\u00a0 \u00a0Most trees and shrubs go dormant during the cold months.\u00a0 Cut trees won\u2019t have oozing branch sap that attracts pests. Pruning trees and plants during the cold season also mean less risk of disease.<\/p>\n Trim those tree branches closest to your house. Branches heavy with snow can scrape your roof and damage shingles or gutters. Broken branches with dead leaves can also trap moisture create mold under your shingles.<\/p>\n Spring may bring \u201cMay flowers\u201d but it\u2019s also a time to open up your home and welcome in the sunshine. Spring is the time for basic home maintenance for all those luxuries we have to survive warmer weather, like air conditioners and swimming pools.<\/p>\n Before the heatwave hits, pull off all air conditioner cover panels to check for mold build-up. Vacuum out the filters to remove dust or dead insects. You should also schedule a professional HVAC technician to come and inspect your units to see if they are operating properly<\/p>\n If you\u2019re ready for another summer of epic pool parties, spring is the time to prepare \u201cparty central\u201d \u2013 your family pool. \u00a0You can start by cleaning and vacuuming your pool before you add water to your height at 1\u201d (25 mm) per hour.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a good idea to test water balance and check the alkalinity levels.<\/p>\n Make sure you inspect other components of your pool system like drains, ladders, and diving boards.\u00a0 Your inspection might also reveal some cracks or pool light problems. If this is the case now is the time to hire a professional to get your pool summer-ready.<\/p>\n When summer BBQs are in full swing, take advantage of this time to focus on the indoor kitchen appliances on your home maintenance schedule.\u00a0 This is the perfect time for cleaning your house. Tend to your refrigerator and range hood that accumulate grease and dust build-up throughout the rest of the year.<\/p>\n Defrost and wipe out all refrigerators and freezers you have in your home.\u00a0 Check the coils located behind and on the bottom of your appliances.\u00a0 If the coils are clogged with cobwebs or crumbs, vacuum them or use a coil cleaning brush to remove the debris.<\/p>\n When grease builds up on range hoods and fans throughout the year, it shortens the life of the fan.\u00a0 You can remove grease build-up with hot soapy water on the range hood and fan blades. Don\u2019t forget to clean the outer surface of the range hood as well, to increase its efficiency.<\/p>\n Ready to put this seasonal house maintenance guide to work for you?\u00a0 The secret is to take it, one season at a time.<\/p>\n Fire Prevention Month in the US is in October.\u00a0 Hire a chimney sweep to clean out your fireplace.\u00a0 Use this time to replace those smoke or carbon monoxide detectors that are over 10 years old.<\/p>\n Winter is not too far down the road either. \u00a0Plan your pruning and trimming schedule early.\u00a0 Prune deciduous plants first and you\u2019ll ensure their faster regrowth in the spring.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to check our website for other helpful advice on cleaning and fixing your home. Planning today can keep your home safe and comfortable for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Homeownership has long been called \u201cthe American dream.\u201d \u00a0Some of us get to the point in our lives where we seek stable neighborhoods, schools, or a hometown that we can… Continue reading “A Complete House Maintenance Guide”<\/span> <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22050,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22049"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22049"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22211,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22049\/revisions\/22211"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upgifs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fall House Maintenance List<\/h3>\n
Winter House Maintenance List<\/h3>\n
Spring House Maintenance List<\/h3>\n
Summer House Maintenance List<\/h3>\n
What Are Your Next Steps?<\/h2>\n