The Window Source Maintaining Your Home Throughout the Year New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine
Cold winters and hot summers can be tough on all of us, but nowhere is this more true then with our homes left to battle the elements directly on our behalf. Owning a home is definitely an adventure, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an extremely costly one. Oftentimes, homeowners get forced into expensive repairs and mandatory remodels because a little problem turned into a big problem.
It’s the same as thinking how a tiny leak in a boat doesn’t amount to much until it’s gone unpatched for hours. The same is true for regular home maintenance. With simple, straightforward monthly check-ups, the tiny leak in the boat will never become anything more than that.
There are some little things that even non-homeowners know about, such as changing out air filters to maximize an HVACs airflow, but don’t neglect these other items either. A great way to ensure nothing gets forgotten is to first make an actual written checklist. You can even create a simple spreadsheet with twelve boxes beside each item to help you keep track all year long.
A monthly home maintenance checklist is easy to implement, both in terms of time and money. Here is a list of basic monthly home improvements:
First be sure to check anything within your home that has a filter or a screen. Check your water softener and refill the salt as needed. Include those air filters and make sure if your home has a furnace that you clean it regularly to remove any built-up dust.
Check the batteries and test all smoke alarms and carbon dioxide filters are working properly and always have spare batteries on hand. Nothing is less welcomed than a fire-alarm’s intermittent beep as it indicates a low charge.
And lastly, be sure to clean out all gutters and check all external vents to check for blockage. And especially in wet wintry months, check to make sure all gutters, shingles and siding are intact and not loose. Also, be sure to look for and report any general wear and tear on any part of the house, inside or out.
By checking off all these items every month, you can keep your utility bill low, and your home in tip top shape. The sooner you address something small, the better you keep it something small.
