, ,

5 Home Maintenance Chores You Shouldn’t Ignore

Cleaning Gutter

Some home maintenance tasks help your home look more attractive and your home’s condition won’t suffer if you forget to do them. Others are directly related to the functionality of the home and your family’s health and safety. Here are 5 home maintenance chores you shouldn’t ignore. Schedule these tasks on your calendar to complete regularly.

 

Clean the Gutters

Gutter cleaning is one of the most important home maintenance tasks. Clogged gutters can cause water damage to many areas of the house. Backlogged rainwater in the gutters can seep under shingles and saturate roofing boards. Water that spills out of the gutters and collects by the foundation can damage the siding and seep into the basement or crawlspace. Clean the gutters at least twice a year. If you have a wooded lot, install gutter guards to help keep debris out of your gutters.

Change the HVAC Filter

The air filter in the HVAC system removes particulates from conditioned air before sending it through the air ducts and into the home. When the air filter is full of dust and debris, it can no longer filter air properly.

Your HVAC system will work harder to push air through a dirty filter, lowering its efficiency. It will also send dirty air back into the home instead of capturing pollutants. Change your HVAC filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some manufacturers recommend every 30 days and some recommend only twice a year. If someone in your home has allergies, invest in HEPA filters for the best filtration.

Home Maintenance Chores for the Driveway

Sealing the driveway helps preserve its surface and protect it from holes and cracks. Since this maintenance doesn’t need to be completed very often, it’s easy to forget about sealing your driveway.  Experts recommend applying a sealant coat about once every three years. Prep the driveway first by pressure washing it before sealing it.

Home Maintenance Chores for the Deck

The most common decking material is pressure-treated wood. While this type of wood is treated to protect it from insect infestations, it still needs to be maintained year after year. Snow and rain take a toll on the deck which ages the surface and loosens the connections. A pressure-treated deck should be sanded, stained, and sealed every year. Remove and replace nails and screws that are protruding and secure any loose railings.

Grease the Garage Door

Even an automatic garage door needs its movable parts lubricated to keep it opening and closing smoothly. Buy a product specifically made for greasing a garage door and apply it to the hinges and rollers once per year.

Premier Home Inspection Services provides home inspections to Northern New Jersey. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *