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Have you noticed some cracks in the tiles or water damage on the upstairs walls? These are common issues, but they can be eliminated with regular home maintenance. In this article, we look at some of the other issues that come up when thinking about home maintenance and offer some ideas to get things under control. Remember, maintaining the home is an ongoing task. Here’s your home maintenance checklist.
Home Maintenance Checklist
Alarms and Detectors
The most important thing in your home is safety, so the first home maintenance task on the list is testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. There should be a smoke alarm on every floor of your home, according to DK Electrical Solutions, and a carbon monoxide detector.
In general, smoke alarms need to be checked once a month, but it’s best to check them every week. All you need to do to check the alarms is to press the test button and listen for a sound; if you don’t hear a sound, you will have to replace the batteries. Detectors work in the same way.
Boiler Checks
Boilers aren’t checked very often, and for good reasons, they are difficult to access, expensive to repair, and professional engineers are needed to ensure the boiler maintenance is carried out legally. Still, your home boiler needs to be checked once a year by an experienced boiler expert.
Having your boiler checked means having the water heater cleaned so there is no build-up of limescale or minerals. These build-ups cause your boiler to run less efficiently and increase your heating bills. Additionally, a boiler check can optimize the water pressure for better performance.
Water Damage
Water damage happens very easily; if you have drains that clog up in the autumn and winter, the water can seep into the walls causing mildew, mold, and extensive damage to the walls. Water damage also occurs on the inside if you don’t have sufficient ventilation in the bathroom.
To avoid water damage, you should pay close attention to the condition of your gutters and ventilation; if you have some DIY abilities, you should be able to use a ladder to clear out the gutters with a trowel and pair of gloves. And try to open a bathroom window to prevent mildew.
Security Systems
When you think of home maintenance, you probably think of cleaning, decorating, new fittings, and working outside; what you don’t tend to think about is home security. But home security is an important part of home maintenance. Security systems are alarms and various home locks.
There are some measures you can take outside the home to prevent intruders from taking an interest, these are timed lighting, gravel driveways, and neighborhood watch, but when it comes to accessing the property, you need suitable locks on doors and windows and strong glass.
Wear and Tear
A comfortable and modern property doesn’t happen by accident; unless you pay regular attention to the maintenance of your property, there’s a high chance you will start to see issues with the walls and floors, such as the appearance of mildew and the disappearance of sealant.
In the bathroom, sealant prevents water from getting into cracks and creating black mold, which is hard to eliminate and leads to health issues. Paintwork also decays over time and starts to look worn and old unless it’s properly maintained. Check around your home for wear and tear.
Decoration
Decoration might not sound like home maintenance, but often it is the best way for you to update your home and maintain it for the rest of the year. Even if you are happy with the decoration in your home, it’s a good idea to freshen up the paintwork and flooring to extend its lifespan more.
While decorating, you should also take care of various repairs and maintenance issues that need semi-regular attention. Maybe you need to repair a shower head that works well enough for now, or buy a trash can that helps you to recycle better; now is the time to update things.
Gutters and Drains
Gutters are invisible most of the time and therefore get overlooked when it comes to home maintenance, but it pays to remember they are there and clean them out routinely, especially in the autumn when they tend to clog up with leaves. Clean them yourself or hire someone else.
Drains are equally important and equally invisible. When you have a blockage in your drainage system, your water starts to run inefficiently, affecting your quality of life and leading to expensive repairs eventually. Conversely, cleaning drains once a year keeps them efficient.
Roof
The roof of your home is vital to the comfort and temperature control of the property, but like the gutters and the drains, it’s mostly a case of out of sight and out of mind with the roof. Also, how can you go about maintaining a roof, so it remains functional and doesn’t need to be replaced?
The answer is simple. When you clean out the gutters, take a look for any cracks and minor damage in the tiles; the faster you can replace these, the better chance you have of maintaining your roof. Additionally, you can clean off any snow through the winter and fix any problem leaks.
Brickwork
While you are carrying out maintenance on your home, don’t forget about the brickwork of your property. Bricks are a reliable material, but over time they also weaken with continuous exposure to extreme weather conditions. Check for cracks in the side of your house and fill them in with a professional filler. Alternatively, you can hire a builder to replace sections of wall.
Garden Maintenance
Finally, you need to maintain your garden if you want to create a well-maintained home. Whether you love gardening or not, maintenance is an important factor. Make sure you clear away any weeds in the patio that can lead to cracks and cut back trees and plants. Maintaining your garden is the best way to create a first-class impression of a well-maintained family home.
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