When you’re buying a new home, you’re well aware of the numbers—your mortgage rate, closing costs, real estate fees, down payment, and so much more. But one of the things most homeowners fail to consider is what comes after the home-buying process is complete: the money that should be set aside for regular home repairs and maintenance.
Although building up your savings can help cover the occasional home emergency, like a broken pipe or a shattered window, bigger problems can end up breaking the bank. While it’s a good idea to set aside money for unexpected problems, you can avoid major issues altogether by scheduling regular maintenance. To save money, preserve your home’s market value, and keep your family safe, here are five ways to ensure your home gets the maintenance it needs.
1. Repair your home’s HVAC system.
Your HVAC system is responsible for maintaining your home’s air quality and energy efficiency and keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. HVAC system maintenance consists of proactive and preventive maintenance, meaning regular maintenance can help prevent future problems from arising. Because everything from clogged filters and leaks to dirty coils can lead to problems with your HVAC system, it’s essential to have your system checked regularly.
The best way to maintain your air conditioning and heating system is to create an action plan to follow every year. If you’re not sure where to start, HVAC repair technicians like Miller’s Central Air, Inc. offer planned service agreements, allowing homeowners to take advantage of a discount on HVAC repair services and two HVAC maintenance visits each year.
2. Test your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
Every six months, test out your smoke detectors using the “test” button. If the alarm goes off, you’re good to go. If not, make sure to replace the batteries and test the smoke detector again.
If your alarm still doesn’t go off, there might be corrosion on the battery terminal, preventing your smoke detector from detecting new batteries. II your smoke detector doesn’t work after cleaning out the corrosion, you’ll likely need to install a new detector. Additionally, be sure to switch out the batteries in carbon dioxide detectors every six months and check for corrosion.
3. Professionally clean your carpets.
Carpets can be a significant investment, so it’s important to protect their value by scheduling professional carpet cleanings. While daily maintenance is important, routine professional cleanings can help you ensure your home is clean, fresh, and healthy.
In addition to eliminating odors, preventing potential infestations, and improving the appearance of your carpet, professional cleanings can save you money in the long run by extending the life of your carpet.
4. Clean out your gutters.
To avoid major repairs, it’s essential to regularly clean your home’s gutters. Not only can debris create too much strain for your gutters, but clogged gutters that aren’t clear can’t properly direct water away from your home, leading to basement leaks, water damage, and cracked foundations. To keep your home safe, schedule a cleaning at the end of spring and fall.
5. Power cycle your router.
If you have a basic setup and your WiFi connection is lagging or your internet speed is slowing down, power cycling your router on a regular basis might be all you need to fix a slow network. To power cycle your router, leave it unplugged and off for about 30 seconds before turning it back on to clear its short-term memory.
The reason why WiFi is faster than mobile data is that wireless speed has less influential factors at play, such as whether you’re moving around while using it and how many people are connected to the same network. If your WiFi is still slow after power cycling your router, consider switching internet plans.
Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility. In addition to ensuring your mortgage is paid every month, it’s also important to schedule regular maintenance to keep your systems working efficiently. All in all, scheduling regular home maintenance can not only save you money, but it can also help keep your home—and everyone in it—safe.