A Guide on How to Maintain your Home

• Constantly make a general house inspection. Identify existing or potential problems and make it a habit to fix every household problem once you are able to detect them. Try to have anything that is damaged or broken fixed or have them repaired if they are not in good condition.
• Regularly check your plumbing system to ensure that there are no leaks or corroded tubes. This way, you are able to prevent paying a lot in terms of water charges even though you haven’t used a lot.
• Watch out for any signs of electrical damage such as discoloration around the electrical outlets and switches. Regularly checking your electrical wirings will not only save your home from a possible fire but also save you from your electric bills because an electrical appliance that is functioning well will not charge an extra on electricity.
• Always prepare your roof for a possible heavy rain. Check for signs of leaks in the attic area so that when a heavy storm occurs, rain wouldn’t leak inside your house. And even after the rain, check again for the damages the storm has caused. For holes, apply sealants to cover them while using water resistant paints to prevent rusting. Besides, you wouldn’t want roof leaks to damage your home’s interior nor would you want to surprise your guests with leaky roof drips on their heads during a special dinner in front of your entire family clan.
• Trim trees touching or hanging over your roof as needed (at least a six foot clearance) for these might become a pathway for animals to have an access to your home.
• Inspect for any leaks, cracks and decay around the water pipes of your washers and dryers and replace them if necessary. Make sure that dryer exhaust vents are not blocked either.
• Check drainage system, especially after a rainy day. If stagnant water is present, it may indicate a poor drainage probably due to obstruction, and you may need to clean it up.
• Make sure that all faucets and drain are free from any outflows and the showerheads exempt from clogs. Run water on unused drains by pouring minute amounts of baking soda while running hot water to help maintain them. Keep your gutters clean too.
• If you have a fireplace, tidy them every season.
• Examine all smoke alarms and carbon detectors monthly. The smoke detector may fail to function if clogged so dusting or vacuuming would help them to operate properly.
• As soon as you have noticed that a mold has occurred in your bathroom and shower walls, remove them as soon as possible.
• It is important to confirm that if in cases of fire, all possible escape routes such as your windows and the doors can easily be accessed. Therefore, ensure they can be opened smoothly and with a slight effort to avoid getting trapped inside. You might also want to consider a little of graphite or grease to prolong your windows and doors life. Don’t forget to inspect and check if moving parts on the garage door and tracks need oil too.
• For those who have pets, inspect the air conditioning filters, heat ducts and the refrigerator coils as pet hairs can get in the way with these items.
• Cleaning your floorings the conventional way is not always enough and the right way. Because every floor type requires different treatment, make certain that before using any treatments, you know how to clean your flooring. You wouldn’t want to end up damaging it instead of cleaning it.
• Check if the air conditioner and heating system is working properly. Take note of any unusual noises heard as this may warrant something such as the need to clean air filters or a replacement.
• Keep your kitchen appliances clean and inspect them on a monthly basis. A properly maintained kitchen means maintaining good hygiene.

For your cars to last longer and have the optimum performance you want, owners need to follow the maintenance schedule stipulated by the manufacturer like changing of oils, lubricating the chassis, checking on tires, engine lights and windshield washer fluid levels. And if failing to adhere to them means being stranded along the highway, the same holds true with your home. If you fail to maintain it, you will suffer the consequences because maintaining your home is the key to preserve the safety, function and beauty of any home, not to mention the savings you can get from fixing bigger house problems by attending to them right away. And those savings can be spent on a vacation instead.