13 Home Maintenance Tips to Help Save Money

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Use these home maintenance tips to stay ahead of issues. A house is the biggest purchase most people ever make, and regular maintenance helps to ensure that you protect that asset, avoiding expensive repairs later.

Just like your car, your home requires proper maintenance, or you’ll end up paying a big price with it coming back to bite you in the end.

One of the primary reasons a home doesn’t sell when it’s put on the market is that it’s been poorly maintained, resulting in many repairs that the buyer will need to make – or forcing the seller to make them before the sale can close, which may prove too costly.

For example, as Kiplinger reports, replacing a roof in Florida runs around $6,000 for a 1,500-square-foot home, or $25,000 for one that’s 4,000-square-feet. Buyers, particularly first-time home buyers, are likely to be scared off by that. The good news is that home maintenance doesn’t always have to be costly.

Home Maintenance Tips

There are ways to do-it-yourself that can save you money now, and in the future, keeping your home in good working order for many years to come.

1. Keep Your Roof in Shape

By periodically checking your roof for damage and quickly replacing any worn or discovered shingles can prevent the need to replace it.

Pay special attention to shingles around the chimney, vents, and skylights as they tend to be most prone to leaks.

2. Protect Hardwood Floors with Area Rugs

Learn how to protect and care for wood floors. Area rugs can help your hardwood floors stay in good condition as well as provide cushioning on the hard surface.

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While there are plenty of pricey rugs you can buy, there are cheap giant rugs that can be purchased to suit every budget.

3. Replace Weather Stripping

Most doors and windows come with weather stripping, the lengths of mental or rubber that seal gaps while allowing the door or window to open and shut properly.

It tends to wear out after time, so you’ll want to be sure that it’s redone on a regular basis.

4. Caulk Windows and Doors

Sometimes it’s better to use caulk than weather stripping to keep doors and windows insulated. It’s cheap and can be used indoors and out to help seal any cracks.

5. Change HVAC Filters Regularly

Filters for cooling and heating systems should be changed once every month or every two months, depending on how heavily they’re used. You may need to change them even more often, every two weeks, if your A/C is running all the time during the summer, or if you live in a northern climate subject to harsh winters and use the heat continuously through the season.

6. Always Clean Out Your Dryer Vent

Allowing lint to build up in your dryer’s vent not only means clothes will take longer to dry, reducing its efficiency and requiring more energy, it could possibly lead to damage.

7. Replace Worn Out Washers in Faucets

The primary cause of a leaky faucet is worn out washers as they’re made up of rubber. They’re easy to replace, just turn off the main water supply by unscrewing the handle that controls the flow of water to the spout, remove the washer and drop in a new one.

8. Touch Up Interior Paint

While you can transform the look for your home by repainting the entire interior, it can be costly and take quite a bit of time.

Instead, be sure to save paint from the current paint job, and then you can use that to do simple touch ups, rolling it over dirty spots on the wall. When it dries, it will look as though it was freshly painted.

9. Prevent Hair Clogs in Bathtub Drains

Strainers for your bathtub drains are extremely cheap and can prevent clogged drains. It will allow you to easily remove any hair that accumulates after a shower to reduce the amount that gets into the plumbing. Remember to remove hair from bathroom sinks too.

10. Keep Gutters Clear

Be sure to clear out your gutters on a regular basis. If you don’t and they end up clogged, it can lead to wood rot, bug problems, roof leaks and even a cracked foundation.

11. Air Conditioner Maintenance

Maintaining your air conditioner is important to ensure it works efficiency which can help save energy. It will also help you avoid expensive repairs and should ultimately extend its life as well. Some things to do are:

  • Replace filters regularly: Change AC filters every month. Doing this routinely can reduce your air conditioner’s energy consumption by up to 15%.
  • Clean the components: Regularly clean the air conditioner coils, vents, and fins to prevent airflow blockage. This is super important to do if you have pets that shed.
  • Maintain condensation drains: Inspect and maintain to avoid clogs and water damage.

12. Heater Maintenance

Some things you can do to maximize efficiency include:

  • Don’t block vents: Be sure drapes or furniture aren’t blocking the vents.
  • Check and replace furnace filters: Similar to AC filters, you need to replace furnace filters regularly, especially during peak usage in winter.
  • Annual service checks: Have a professional inspect and service your furnace annually. They will check for carbon monoxide leaks and ensure it’s operating efficiently.

13. Ventilation and Ductwork Maintenance

Having good ventilation helps keep a healthy home. Some maintenance tips are:

  • Clean ducts: Have them cleaned every few years
  • Seal leaks: Check ductwork for gaps and seal them.

Home Maintenance Tips

In conclusion, the most important thing for homeowners to do is to maintain their home through regular upkeep. This will ensure that the home stays in good condition, making it more valuable and less costly to repair or replace.

When it comes to maintaining your own house, the most important thing is to make sure you are doing regular maintenance on it. Don’t wait for a problem to take action.

Taking care of the home will not only make it more aesthetically pleasing, but also minimize the amount of money spent on fixing things later.

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